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AI Buoy Listens for Endangered Orcas
5 Nov
Summary
- AI-powered buoy monitors underwater noise for endangered orcas.
- Slower ships reduce noise pollution, aiding whale hunting.
- New tech aims to prevent deadly ship strikes on whales.
Seventy-six southern resident killer whales, an endangered population, have arrived in the Salish Sea for their annual migration into Puget Sound. These orcas face significant threats from underwater noise pollution originating from maritime shipping lanes, which impairs their hunting, communication, and echolocation abilities. A 2024 study indicated that increased noise levels significantly reduce the whales' likelihood of pursuing and capturing prey.
To address these challenges, an AI-powered acoustic buoy, developed by SMRU Consulting and Microsoft, was launched in July in the Haro Strait. This technology aims to monitor whale activity in near real-time, providing crucial data to prevent ship strikes. The buoy's Water SPARROW system is being tested against SMRU's own system to determine the most accurate method for identifying killer whale calls.
In parallel, a voluntary ship slow-down program, implemented along a 20-mile stretch near Washington's major ports, has achieved a 73% participation rate this season, reducing underwater noise by up to 50%. This initiative, along with the new AI buoy, is part of ongoing efforts to balance Washington's trade-dependent economy with the critical need for wildlife conservation, particularly for the endangered southern resident killer whales.
