AI cameras scan San Francisco Bay to help protect whales from deadly ship strikes

A network of artificial intelligence-powered thermal cameras has been deployed in San Francisco Bay to monitor gray whales, which have increasingly used the area as feeding grounds since 2018. The system, launched this week, detects whale heat signatures around the clock, even in fog or darkness, and alerts boat captains to adjust routes and avoid collisions—a leading cause of whale deaths in the region. In 2025, 21 gray whales were found dead in and around the bay, with 40% showing injuries from boat strikes. Scientists attribute the whales' presence to climate-driven food shortages in the Arctic, forcing them to stop and forage along their migration route. The species' population has dropped to 12,000–13,000, the lowest in 55 years, as whales now travel with depleted energy reserves. The program, developed by the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory in collaboration with the Marine Mammal Center and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service, uses WhaleSpotter cameras to identify whale blows. Sightings are confirmed by marine mammal specialists and shared on the Whale Safe website, while the Coast Guard relays alerts to boat captains via radio calls. Rachel Rhodes, the project lead, said the system helps captains slow down or reroute when whales are detected, reducing collision risks. Kathi George, director of Cetacean Conservation Biology at the Marine Mammal Center, called the initiative a model for global ports, combining technology, science, and maritime safety to protect whales. The project aims to mitigate vessel strikes while maintaining navigational safety in one of the busiest waterways in the country. Scientists hope the AI network will serve as a template for other high-traffic maritime areas facing similar conservation challenges.