Marine experts in British Columbia are exploring a novel strategy for enhancing whale conservation by drawing inspiration from a collaborative approach used in parts of California. In San Francisco Bay, a unified effort involving scientists, ferry operators, and the general public is underway to monitor whale movements using a specialized camera system and a dedicated mobile application.
Known as WhaleSpotter cameras, these thermal imaging devices are enclosed in compact white boxes and are designed to track whale activities around the clock. The recorded whale sightings from both the WhaleSpotter cameras and human observers are shared through a public app, facilitating a comprehensive monitoring network.
Daniel Zitterbart, the lead scientist at WhaleSpotter, emphasized the importance of increasing surveillance efforts on the water to safeguard marine mammals. While similar WhaleSpotter cameras are operational in British Columbia, they are currently stationed on land and lack the mobility of ferry-mounted units, limiting their range to about two nautical miles.
Monitoring whale movements is crucial for mitigating vessel strikes, a pressing issue in British Columbia highlighted by several documented incidents involving humpback whales and orcas in recent years. By leveraging the Whale Safe app in San Francisco Bay, a diverse group of stakeholders including scientists, mariners, and researchers can collaborate to track whale sightings effectively.
In British Columbia, only approved commercial mariners have access to the data collected by the cameras through the Ocean Wise whale report alert system, with the general public excluded from direct monitoring. San Francisco Bay Ferry has expressed optimism about utilizing ferry-mounted cameras to study whale behaviors over time, aiming to identify patterns and adjust routes accordingly.
Efforts are underway to expand the deployment of detection devices on B.C. Ferries routes, particularly in areas known as “humpback highways,” where collisions with whales have occurred. The need for enhanced collaboration and data-sharing to address the global issue of vessel strikes on whales has been underscored by conservation experts, emphasizing the urgency of cross-border partnerships in marine wildlife protection.
