Whales are regularly becoming entangled in underwater webs of fishing line and gear and dying from collisions with ships.  The death toll from ship strikes is projected to rise as waterways become more crowded in today's global economy.  At least 68% of reported ship strikes of great whales are fatal.

Ancient underwater pathways, followed by hundreds of generations of whales, are now lethal freeways these gentle giants - often with their calves in tow - must navigate to access critical underwater habitat. 

Fishing line may get wrapped around a whale's fluke or flippers as it swims or dives, or get caught in its baleen plates as it filters water through its open mouth to feed.  As the whale struggles, the line can wrap in ever-tighter circles, impacting proper feeding or migration, and causing physical damage or death.  The whale may die quickly or swim for months or years with the dangerous gear attached.

The critically endangered North Atlantic right whales - of which only about 300 survive today - are especially vulnerable to both entanglements and collisions with ships.  At least 72% of North Atlantic right whales have scars from entanglement, while collisions with vessels account for half of all their known deaths.  In 2004, IFAW launched a pilot program in Massachusetts, USA to help lobstermen replace dangerous floating rope with whale-friendly sinking rope.