Dr. Chloe Robinson talks about how technology, such as the Whale Report Alert System, can help to give whales a fighting chance
Every year, thousands of vessels crisscross the waters off Canada’s coastlines – routes that overlap with critical habitats for whales. For species like humpback, fin, and sperm whales, these busy shipping lanes pose a silent but deadly threat: vessel strikes. Collisions with vessels are one of the leading causes of whale mortality worldwide, and as ocean traffic grows, so does the risk.
Enter Dr. Chloe Robinson, a marine scientist and conservation innovator at Ocean Wise. Robinson leads efforts to tackle this challenge through technology-driven solutions, most notably the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), a groundbreaking tool designed to give whales a fighting chance.
How WRAS Works
The Whale Report Alert System is deceptively simple in concept but powerful in impact. When a whale is spotted – by a trained observer, a citizen scientist, or even a mariner – the sighting is logged through the Whale Report app. That data is then transmitted in real-time to nearby WRAS users, alerting captains to slow down or change course.
This rapid communication can mean the difference between life and death for whales. “Every alert gives mariners the opportunity to make safer decisions,” Robinson explains. “It’s about creating a culture of awareness on the water.”
Since its launch, WRAS has grown into a collaborative network involving shipping companies, ferry operators, coastal communities, and technology providers. The added value of integrating AI-based whale detection tools, such as infrared cameras and hydrophones, to the WRAS network means that whales can be protected during hours of darkness or in poor weather conditions – when human eyes are not the best at spotting whales. The system currently covers key regions in British Columbia, Washington State, and Alaska, with plans to expand globally. Robinson is championing this expansion but explains, “We’ve hit a funding roadblock that is limiting our ability to expand WRAS to new geographies, including areas such as the Strait of Gibraltar and eastern Australia, where the risk of vessel strikes is greatest. This means that we’re missing the opportunity to save whales every day.”
Science Meets Collaboration
Robinson’s work isn’t just about tech; it’s about people. “Conservation succeeds when industry and science work together,” she says. Over the past two years, Ocean Wise has partnered with major shipping lines and ports to integrate WRAS into daily operations. These partnerships are critical because slowing down vessels or rerouting traffic requires buy-in from those who depend on the ocean for commerce.
The results speak volumes. In areas where WRAS alerts are active, vessel operators have reported reductions in speed and changes in heading near whale sightings—proven ways to reduce collision risk. For large whale species like humpback whales, which were previously decimated during the commercial whaling era and today face multiple threats from entanglement to dwindling prey, every avoided strike is a step towards long-term species recovery.
Why It Matters
Whales are more than icons of the ocean – they are engineers of the ecosystem. By circulating nutrients and storing carbon in their massive bodies, they play a vital role in combating climate change. Losing them to preventable collisions isn’t just a tragedy for biodiversity; it’s a blow to planetary health.
Robinson sees WRAS as part of a bigger picture: using innovation to harmonize human activity with marine life. “We can’t stop shipping,” she notes. “But we can make it safer. Technology gives us that opportunity.”
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, Robinson and their team are exploring ways to further enhance WRAS with additional AI-powered technologies and integrating alerts with existing vessel bridge technologies, including navigation systems. The goal? A global, easy-to-use alert system that protects whales wherever they roam.
Ocean Wise invites yachters everywhere – including ONBOARD Magazine readers – to be part of the solution. When you are out in the water you have an opportunity to help stop vessel strikes!
Download the Whale Report app. Report sightings. Spread the word. Because saving whales isn’t just the job of scientists – it’s for everyone who loves the ocean.
Learn more about WRAS and Ocean Wise’s marine conservation efforts at ocean.org.
