CBL Research Assistant Professor Dr. Helen Bailey is developing a system that predicts the whereabouts of whales off the West Coast. Although commercial whaling has ended, many whale species have been slow to increase in number. This project aims to help reduce harmful human impacts on whales.
WhaleWatch uses satellites to monitor environmental conditions and track the movements of blue, fin, gray, and humpback whales. These data will allow researchers to predict how likely it is that whales will be in a certain area at a certain time and how many there will be.
CBL Research Assistant Professor Dr. Helen Bailey is developing a system that predicts the whereabouts of whales off the West Coast. Although commercial whaling has ended, many whale species have been slow to increase in number. This project aims to help reduce harmful human impacts on whales.
WhaleWatch uses satellites to monitor environmental conditions and track the movements of blue, fin, gray, and humpback whales. These data will allow researchers to predict how likely it is that whales will be in a certain area at a certain time and how many there will be.
The data will be used to create a real-time map showing the location of whale “hotspots” based on present conditions. This dynamic map will be available on the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) website, where it will serve as a tool for boat captains, commercial fishermen, marine managers, and other users.
By looking at the map, users will be able to see where there is a high risk of having harmful interactions with whales, such as accidently catching them in fishing nets, hitting them with ships, or damaging their hearing. The goal is that this information can be used by managers and reduce the likelihood that marine users will impact whales.
Bailey hopes that this method can be applied to other marine species as well.
