New York Times: New System Aims to Save Whales Near San Francisco From Ship Collisions
- Species conservation
- Pathology
- Climate change
Four whales have died near San Francisco this year after ships crashed into them, and scientists hope to drive that number to zero with new technology.
Published in The New York Times: September 21, 2022
Fran washed ashore in August, some 25 miles south of the Golden Gate Bridge. The beloved and much-photographed female humpback whale had a broken neck, most likely the result of being hit by a ship.
This latest instance of oceanic roadkill increased the tally of whales killed by ships near San Francisco this year to four. The true death toll is likely to be much higher as whale carcasses often sink to the sea floor.
Scientists and conservationists are trying to drive that number to zero. On Wednesday, Whale Safe, an A.I.-powered detection system, began operating around San Francisco Bay. Its goal is to warn large ships in the area’s waters when whales are nearby.
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2022\/cropped-images\/csl-torple-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-6-10-4475-3495-1664989112.jpg","alt":"California sea lion Torple in a pool with her head in the air","title":"SFGATE: Hundreds of Sea Lions Sickened Along California Coastline","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sfgate-hundreds-of-sea-lions-sickened-along-california-coastline","label":"In the News","date":"2022-10-05 02:00:00"}
SFGATE: Hundreds of Sea Lions Sickened Along California Coastline
October 5, 2022
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/whale-tail-with-bridge-and-ships-shutterstock-3-7-4898-3826-1663722256.jpg","alt":"whale tails visible above water under the Golden Gate Bridge with shipping traffic in the distance","title":"Whale Safe \u2013 an AI-enabled System to Prevent Ship Collisions with Whales \u2013 to Launch off the San Francisco Coastline","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/whale-safe-to-launch-off-the-san-francisco-coastline","label":"Press Release","date":"2022-09-21 04:00:00"}
Whale Safe – an AI-enabled System to Prevent Ship Collisions with Whales – to Launch off the San Francisco Coastline
September 21, 2022
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-mouth-open-photo-c-brian-simuro-424-2-3006-2347-1631233339.jpeg","alt":"sea otter with mouth wide open","title":"Put Your Sea Otter Knowledge to the Test","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/put-your-sea-otter-knowledge-to-the-test","label":"News Update","date":"2022-09-13 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Hawaiian monk seal\/cropped-images\/hms-meleana-and-pup-by-paige-mino-c-noaa-permit-18786-0-4-4695-3668-1662594712.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal Meleana and her pup on the beach","title":"Milestone Moment: Released Hawaiian Monk Seal Patients Spotted With Pups in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/milestone-moment-released-hawaiian-monk-seal-patients-spotted-with-pups-in-northwestern-hawaiian-islands","label":"Press Release","date":"2022-09-08 02:00:00"}
Milestone Moment: Released Hawaiian Monk Seal Patients Spotted With Pups in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
September 8, 2022
Read Morepathology
climate change
Kathi George
Humpback Whale
Gray Whale
Blue Whale