Researchers in the United States have created an innovative system designed to identify gray whales through the heat signature of their exhalations, providing alerts to vessels to prevent potential collisions. The impact of climate change is evident as it diminishes the food sources in the Arctic, leading to melting sea ice and a shortage of amphipods for the whales. As a result, these undernourished whales are venturing into San Francisco Bay, where they encounter significant ship traffic. In recent years, numerous whales have been killed after being struck by container vessels and ferries, contributing to a worrying decline in their population, which has plummeted by nearly one-third from approximately 27,000 in 2016 to around 18,000 today.
To combat this issue, cameras have been strategically placed on Angel Island and aboard a ferry, focusing on areas frequented by whales. Thermal imaging technology scans the waters, sending images to an AI system capable of detecting a whale's unique blow from distances of up to two nautical miles. Each detection is confirmed by a human operator, who then logs the coordinates onto a map and communicates with ship captains via radio. Within the first ten days of operation, the system recorded over 6,000 whale blows, and this figure exceeded 16,000 by July.
Currently, ferries are required to reduce their speed to 10 knots if a whale is spotted in the vicinity. However, scientists emphasize that these speed limits on the West Coast are not mandatory, and merely relying on cameras will not suffice to protect the whales effectively.
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