The goal of this focus area is to build a reliable safety net of information so that large commercial vessels know exactly when and where Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are present. By creating a system that detects the whales around the clock—even at night or during foul weather—mariners can be alerted to their presence in real-time, allowing them to take action to avoid the whales.

Here are the key strategies being used to accomplish this:

• Expanding Visual Sightings: The program is working to funnel more human-reported sightings into the shared Whale Report Alert System (WRAS). By supporting the efforts of sightings networks and ensuring these sightings flow into this central system, they ensure that more mariners have access to up-to-date information on whale locations.
• Thermal Imaging: To overcome the limitations of human eyesight, the program is deploying shore-based cameras that use heat-sensing technology. This allows for the detection of whales at night and in poor visibility, such as during heavy fog, when traditional visual spotting is impossible.
• Listening for Whales (Acoustic Detection): The team is utilizing underwater microphones, or hydrophones, to hear the whales through their vocalizations. They are actively working to expand this network, including the design and placement of permanent listening stations to provide better coverage across the region.
• Direct Alert Delivery: The program is focused on getting these detections directly onto the navigation screens that mariners use every day. Quiet Sound is exploring ways to push alerts through existing ship tracking technology (like AIS) and other navigation systems to ensure the information reaches captains quickly and effectively, regardless of what software they are using.