Protecting Marine Giants: Safeguarding Whales
How the OCEAN Project is Using Technology to Safeguard Whales and Marine Ecosystems
In today’s ocean environments, ship traffic, industrial activity, and climate change are converging to create unprecedented risks for marine wildlife. Among the most affected are whales, whose survival is threatened by ship strikes, entanglements, noise pollution, and habitat disruption. As stewards of marine conservation, environmentalists have long sought science-driven and globally coordinated solutions. Enter the OCEAN Project.
A Collaborative Vision for Safer Seas
Funded by Horizon Europe and launched in October 2022, the OCEAN Project (Operator-Centred Enhancement of Awareness in Navigation) is a multidisciplinary initiative focused on enhancing maritime safety while protecting the environment. Through advanced monitoring tools and a collaborative, human-centred approach, it aims to reduce oceanic risks such as ship strikes on whales, accidents involving lost containers, and vessel collisions.
One of the key partners, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), leads research into whale conservation using artificial intelligence (AI) applied to satellite imagery. Their goal is to provide rapid response detection of whales to mitigate collision risks with ships, particularly in migratory corridors and critical habitats.
Accessible Tools for Real-World Impact
The project’s tools are advanced and designed for real-world applications. The European Navigational Hazard Infrastructure (ENHI), the project’s central platform, consolidates data from satellites, ocean models, and mariner reports.
This data informs tools like the OCEAN Reporting App. Designed with mariners in mind, the app allows users to log hazards such as floating containers and cetaceans, focusing on large whales at the highest risk, and to be alerted to such risks by other mariners.
By providing reliable, science-based data to conservationists and maritime operators, the OCEAN Project empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions that reduce risks to marine life without compromising safety or operational efficiency.
Environmentalists can play a vital role in the success of the OCEAN Project. By advocating for data sharing, engaging in regional conservation efforts, and raising public awareness, conservation groups can help integrate these tools into wider marine protection frameworks.
This is more than a technological solution; it’s a new chapter in collaborative ocean governance. Together, we can advance sustainable maritime practices that ensure biodiversity preservation and navigational safety.
Want to learn more about the environmental impact or how you can contribute to marine conservation efforts? Join the OCEAN Stakeholders: Here