Marine scientists in British Columbia are considering a new method of tracking whale sightings used in parts of California to potentially reduce whale strikes in their region. In San Francisco Bay, a collaborative effort involving scientists, ferry operators, and the public is underway to monitor whales using thermal imaging technology and an app called WhaleSafe. The WhaleSpotter cameras are equipped with thermal imaging capabilities to track whale activity around the clock, and the data is shared on a public app alongside reports from human observers.
Daniel Zitterbart, the chief scientist at WhaleSpotter, emphasized the importance of having more eyes on the water to enhance whale protection. While some WhaleSpotter cameras are installed on land in British Columbia, they lack ferry-mounted cameras, limiting their ability to detect whales to approximately two nautical miles. Tracking whale movements is crucial for understanding their migration routes and avoiding vessel collisions, an issue that has gained attention in British Columbia due to several documented whale strikes in recent years.
In San Francisco Bay, the WhaleSpotter cameras are integrated with the WhaleSafe app, allowing scientists, mariners, researchers, and the public to monitor whale sightings collaboratively. Douglas McCauley, the director of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, highlighted the community effort to establish a public resource for whale tracking. In British Columbia, only approved commercial mariners can access the camera data through the Ocean Wise whale report alert system, which notifies them of nearby whales but is not accessible to the general public.
Thomas Hall from San Francisco Bay Ferry expressed the intention to monitor whale behavior and habits over time using ferry-mounted cameras. Zitterbart advocated for the implementation of similar cameras on all B.C. Ferries routes to protect whales, particularly humpbacks. B.C. Ferries is considering installing detection devices on its northern route following a fatal humpback whale strike last fall, with potential plans for other routes in the future.
Efforts for collaborative whale protection have intensified amid increased ship traffic and climate change impacts on whale behavior. McCauley noted an influx of grey whales in San Francisco Bay searching for new food sources, leading to a rise in ship strike-related whale deaths. According to the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, 40% of the 21 whale deaths in the bay last year showed signs of ship strikes.
Sean Brillant, a conservation biologist from the Canadian Wildlife Federation, stressed the urgency of addressing vessel strikes as a major threat to whales in Canada. He emphasized the need for cross-border collaboration to safeguard whales globally, citing the importance of sharing data across agencies for successful conservation initiatives.
