Press Release

Technology to Mitigate Whale Strikes Demonstrated in Arlington, VA

WAVS Highlights Available Pathways and Critical Next Steps

March 2024, Arlington, VA. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently hosted a workshop in Arlington, VA, where the Whale and Vessel Safety (WAVS) Task Force and other stakeholders demonstrated technological advancements that can reduce vessel strikes of the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW). 

NOAA managers, WAVS members, marine industry stakeholders, researchers and conservationists came together in great numbers for two days with a common goal: protect the NARW through science, technology and communication. The workshop was the first time that experts in the marine industry and other industries outside of marine conservation were invited to the table together and in a significant way. 

The WAVS Task Force, a Viking Yacht Company initiative, is supportive of this approach and believes it will spur sharing of ideas, filling of data gaps, and better supporting the collective goal of reducing NARW vessel strike risk. 

“We thank NOAA for organizing this workshop,” said Mark Reedenauer, executive director of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) and a member of WAVS. “The excellent presentations are just the beginning of the technology options that electronics can serve to protect all whales. These solutions are happening now as we can see, and the workshop demonstrated. Still, we must leverage technology through collaboration with the private sector and the marine industry.”

“Technology and tools already exist – they just need to be harnessed and fully utilized – and much more can be implemented in the near future,” says WAVS Taskforce Chairman John DePersenaire. “Utilizing marine electronics commonly installed on a broad range of vessels is critical to receiving and transmitting NARW information to reduce vessel strikes,” says DePersenaire. “Thermal imaging technology coupled with artificial intelligence software, for instance, will allow mariners to identify whales directly on their multi-function display and notify others through communication tools such as AIS (Automatic Identification System).”

WAVS has been diligently working to inventory existing assets, evaluate vessel-born detection, and explore management tools that can reduce marine mammal vessel strikes.  WAVS has been keen to describe this effort as an on-going process to reduce risk as opposed to the development of an out-of-the-box, single product solution.  Risk reduction is continuously underway as the industry strives to build safer boats and more powerful marine electronics.  

The NOAA workshop was organized into four topics: detection/classification, dissemination/integration, modeling/forecasting, and aggregation. Each plays an important role in risk reduction. Data standards are necessary to make these tools widely available and accessible to all electronics manufacturers. NMEA sets interface standards that ensure data streams are transmitted in a standardized format, fostering collaboration among manufacturers and making sure detection information of the NAWR can be used by all mariners.

One workshop panel focused on using AIS to disseminate targeted messaging within a geographic area. A presentation by Moses Calouro of Maritime Information Systems Inc. highlighted the potential of this approach to reach a significant portion of the fleet due to AIS’ universal standard and ease of delivery. 

"AIS offers a practical approach to inform mariners about right whale sightings and slow zones exactly where and when they need it most,” explained Calouro. “This approach not only enhances the safety of endangered marine species but also boosts mariner safety. By merging technology with environmental stewardship, we're thrilled to assist with delivering information to mariners in real-time to navigate safely and responsibly.”

Predictive modeling was thoroughly discussed and viewed as a useful tool to better understand the location of the NARW. More adaptive modeling approaches are now being used that account for climate and ocean changes and aim to link whale presence to certain conditions. 

“We are not too far away from a time when data-driven technology is deployed to provide actionable insights for dynamic risk mitigation by captains on even the busiest waterways,” said Dr. Joel Caplan, Professor at Rutgers University, Cofounder of Simsi and WAVS member who presented on risk terrain modeling work during the workshop. “The NOAA workshop clearly conveyed that there is a collective will and ability to protect NARWs from vessel strikes. Soon there will be a clear path forward to achieving this while also meeting the needs and expectations of many stakeholder interests.”

The workshop's outcomes are expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing efforts to protect NARWs and other marine species. WAVS looks forward to continued collaboration with NOAA and other stakeholders to advance technological solutions. 

“Our collective commitment to addressing this critical issue has been significantly energized,” stated Todd Tally, General Manager of Atlantic Marine Electronics. “Together, we can advance our strategies and solutions effectively and efficiently.”

Contact: John DePersenaire 

jdepersenaire@vikingyachts.com 

(609) 296-6000 ext 1369