How It Works: The acoustic buoy uses a hydrophone (underwater microphone) and a tiny computer to detect and identify sounds in the water. The buoy does not provide information on the exact location or numbers of whales present. What It Doesn’t Mean: Not all whales actively vocalize, so the absence of a detection doesn’t necessarily indicate that no whales are present. What It Means: Acoustically detecting a blue, fin, or humpback whale call in the vicinity of the buoy indicates the presence of one or more whales of the species detected (blue, humpback, or fin). The tool’s functionality allows users to receive email updates of both whale data and whale-safe shipping. Whale Safe also has a reporting system that summarizes AIS data to determine which vessels and companies best abide by voluntary speed recommendations that are implemented by NOAA to protect endangered whales along the California coast. In addition to sharing whale data, the tool displays internationally designated shipping lanes, voluntary vessel speed reduction zones, and shipping activity that is derived from Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). Each day, these three whale data sources are combined into an integrated whale presence rating (low, medium, high, very high). The tool displays both visual and acoustic whale detections, as well as a blue whale habitat model that updates daily based on oceanographic conditions. Whale Safe is a technology-powered mapping and analysis tool displaying near real-time whale and ship data designed to prevent fatal ship collisions with endangered whales.
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