Listening for Whales to Prevent Ship Collisions

Right whale swiming near a passing ship.

A right whale swimming near a passing ship off the Atlantic coast of the United States.

A new underwater acoustic system positioned around Boston Harbor is expected to help prevent collisions between North Atlantic right whales and the passing ships that often kill the marine mammals.

Worldwide, only about 400 of the species are believed to have survived centuries of hunting and ship collisions.

Once the sound of a whale has been detected in the busy shipping lanes around Cape Cod, nearby vessels will be asked to sail no faster than 10 knots.

The network of marine microphones and the accompanying monitoring system will cost about $1 million each year for the next 25 years, according to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

“It’s definitely an expensive tactic,” said sanctuary marine biologist Leila Hatch. “But, the shipping industry has accepted it.”

Hatch pointed out that at least two North Atlantic right whales have been killed by ships within the past three years. "This is in a population where we cannot (afford to) lose one."

Photo: NOAA
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