Tech Meets Conservation: Saving the North Atlantic Right Whale

With approximately only 380 North Atlantic Right Whales left, every ship strike is a potential blow to the species’ survival. At Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, we’re using a clever bit of existing tech to fight that. 

By repurposing AIS (Automatic Identification System) technology – the standard GPS-style tracking ships already use – we’ve created a digital safety net. In partnership with MotionInfo and iFAW, we’ve installed six AIS stations high up in treetops and lighthouses along the coast that monitor vessel traffic 24/7. When a vessel enters a spot where a whale was just seen or is part of their migration path, the AIS system sends a “slow down” alert directly to the captain’s bridge screen, to prevent another deadly ship strike on a North Atlantic Right Whale. 

It’s simple, and it works: Pilot studies show that over 80% of captains slowed down after getting a “ping.”  

By turning everyday maritime gear into a conservation tool, we’re giving these whales a real fighting chance.