San Francisco turns to AI to avoid collisions between ships and whales searching for food

A new AI-driven detection system called WhaleSpotter began monitoring San Francisco Bay this week to reduce collisions between ships and gray whales. The system uses thermal cameras and artificial intelligence to scan for whale blows and heat signatures within 2 nautical miles, alerting ferry operators, vessel traffic controllers, and the public via the Whale Safe website. Mariners will receive real-time warnings to slow down or reroute when whales are detected, allowing adjustments before ships approach. The initiative responds to a sharp rise in whale deaths, with 21 gray whales found dead in the Bay Area last year—the highest number in 25 years—and at least 10 already recorded in 2024. Ship strikes account for 40% of these fatalities, according to The Marine Mammal Center, though scientists believe many more go unreported as carcasses sink or drift away. Gray whales typically migrate 12,000 miles along the California coast between Mexico’s breeding lagoons and Arctic feeding grounds. However, warming Arctic temperatures and shifting sea ice have disrupted their food sources, leaving many malnourished during migration. As a result, increasing numbers of whales are lingering in San Francisco Bay for days or weeks, congregating in high-traffic corridors between Angel Island, Alcatraz, and Treasure Island—directly overlapping with ferry and cargo ship routes. The eastern North Pacific gray whale population, once a conservation success story, has declined by half over the past decade, with only 13,000 remaining. Rachel Rhodes, a project scientist at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, noted that the overlap between whale activity and shipping lanes has become ‘the worst possible scenario.’ Rescue teams have struggled to handle the volume of strandings, with limited space to land dead whales. WhaleSpotter’s alerts are verified by trained marine mammal observers before being sent to ferry operators and vessel traffic controllers. The system aims to mitigate risks while also gathering long-term data to adjust shipping routes during peak whale seasons. Thomas Hall, director of operations for San Francisco Bay Ferry, stated the technology will help mariners avoid collisions far in advance and refine routes to minimize overlap with whale hotspots.