AI Alerts Help Ships Steer Clear of Whales

https://spectrum.ieee.org/whales-ai-thermal-camera-tracking

Publish Date: 2026-05-26 08:00:01

The article highlights the launch of an AI-based whale detection system named WhaleSpotter in collaboration with several government agencies and scientists to ensure interspecies safety in a busy area of San Francisco Bay. The system employs thermal cameras that utilize an AI model to detect whales’ exhalations (spouts) and alerts passing ships to avoid collisions, which have caused significant mortality rates for gray whales in the area. The AI thermal cameras are enhanced because they can detect whales at night, during fog, and with greater accuracy than human observation can manage. This technology enables continuous monitoring, thereby presenting a front-row view of the impacts of climate change on whale migration. Since 2018, gray whales have begun to stop in the bay due to probable effects of low sea ice levels from climate change, causing concern for their safety. The AI system is already in use worldwide and has shown to reduce the risk of ship strikes by 90 percent. Human verification remains necessary to verify AI detections and ensure that ships receive accurate warnings.

Key Points:

– The launch of an AI-based whale detection system aims to help avoid ship strikes in the busy San Francisco Bay, potentially lowering gray whale mortality rates.
– Gray whales migrating between Alaska and Baja California have been increasingly stopping in San Francisco Bay due to climate change impacts, putting them at additional collision risk.
– WhaleSpotter’s thermal cameras use AI to recognize whale spouts, offering improved, continuous monitoring of whale presence.
– Although the AI can significantly reduce false positives, human verification is still required to ensure ship warnings are timely and accurate.
– The collaboration involves land-based and vessel-based monitors to provide a fuller picture of whale activity in the bay.