San Francisco launches WhaleSpotter AI network

UC Santa Barbara researchers, the U.S. Coast Guard and San Francisco Bay maritime operators this week switched on a new whale-detection network designed to warn ships when gray whales surface in the bay. The system, called WhaleSpotter, uses thermal cameras and artificial intelligence to scan the water around the clock for whale blows and heat signatures, then relays sightings to mariners in near real time. The launch comes after 21 gray whales were found dead in the wider Bay Area in 2025, the highest annual total in 25 years, according to coverage citing marine researchers. At least 40% of those deaths were linked to ship strikes, news reports said. ### Why are whales showing up inside San Francisco Bay? San Francisco Bay has seen an unusual rise in gray whales entering the bay to forage, according to Associated Press coverage and the Whale Safe project. Reports said climate change and shifting food conditions have pushed starving whales into busier, more dangerous waters, increasing overlap with ferries, cargo ships and tankers. UC Santa Barbara’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory said 2025 brought an “unprecedented” number of gray whales into the bay. (abcnews.com) Douglas McCauley, director of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, said in a university release that it was “heartbreaking” to see hungry whales in the middle of heavy Bay traffic. Thomas Hall, director of operations for San Francisco Bay Ferry, said the new alerts should let vessel operators make course or speed changes before getting close to an animal. (washingtonpost.com) ### How does WhaleSpotter actually work? The WhaleSpotter network uses land-based thermal cameras and AI detection software to identify the heat signature of a whale blow and other visual cues on the water, according to AP and UC Santa Barbara-linked reporting. The system scans continuously and can detect whale signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, according to AP coverage; a UCSB release described thermal detections at ranges of up to 4 nautical miles, with each detection reviewed by a credentialed marine-mammal specialist before an alert is sent. (edhat.com) That difference appears to reflect varying descriptions of operating range versus alerting range in public accounts. The Whale Safe platform says it combines visual and acoustic detections with habitat modeling to display near-real-time whale and ship data for the San Francisco region. In the bay deployment, researchers said sightings are shared with mariners and with the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service, which can radio ships when whales are in an area of immediate concern. (abcnews.com) ### Who is running the network? UC Santa Barbara’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory said it built the system with local Bay partners, including the U.S. Coast Guard, San Francisco Bay Ferry, Blue & Gold Fleet, Golden Gate Ferry, The Marine Mammal Center and the Harbor Safety Committee. KCBX reported that marine scientists, ferry operators and the Coast Guard launched the network this week. (bosl.ucsb.edu) WhaleSpotter is also the name of the marine-mammal detection technology used in the system, while Whale Safe is the mapping and analysis platform that displays detections and ship data. The Bay project is described in AP coverage as the first network to directly integrate land-based and vessel-mounted detections with official mariner alerts. (edhat.com) ### What changes for ships when a whale is detected? The immediate change is operational: mariners get alerts telling them whales are nearby and can slow down or reroute. AP coverage said the system is meant to give ferries, tankers and cargo ships enough warning to adjust before reaching the animal. NOAA’s Farallones office says voluntary vessel-speed reduction efforts in the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast regions are already aimed at cutting whale strikes, underwater noise and air pollution. (abcnews.com) The broader Whale Safe project cites research showing that ships slowing to 10 knots in high-whale areas can significantly reduce danger to whales. The Bay network adds a near-real-time detection layer inside a waterway where whales had often gone unnoticed until vessels were already close. ### What happens next? The Whale Safe website now shows San Francisco Bay coverage and says the system provides real-time whale and ship data for the region. (abcnews.com) The 2026 Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program is also underway, with shipping sectors including tankers, bulk carriers and cruise lines invited to participate in vessel-speed reduction efforts this season. (whalesafe.com)