Whales are showing up in San Francisco Bay. New ship alerts help protect them
16 hours ago
- #climate change
- #gray whales
- #ship strikes
- Gray whales are increasingly appearing in San Francisco Bay due to climate change affecting their Arctic food supply, leading them to feed there during migration.
- Ship strikes are a major threat, with 7 out of 16 gray whales seen in the bay this year dying from collisions, prompting new protective measures.
- A thermal camera system using AI and human verification detects whale exhalations to alert the Coast Guard, which notifies vessels to prevent strikes.
- Gray whale populations in the North Pacific have declined to about 13,000, half of a decade ago, with high mortality rates in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Climate change reduces sea ice in the Arctic, diminishing the shrimp-like prey gray whales rely on, causing malnutrition and forcing them to seek food elsewhere.
- Voluntary alerts and speed adjustments by local ferries and ships are being implemented, with optimism for community-driven solutions despite challenges for large container ships.