The Atlantic Whale Deal Project continues to advance in the analysis of on-board detection technologies aimed at mitigating collisions with large whales.
Coordinated by the ULL (University of La Laguna) alongside IWDG (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group), CIIMAR (Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental) and ARDITI (Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação), the team is currently working on validating automated cetacean detection systems using infrared thermography, combining prior experience with continuous data collection across various navigation platforms.
The sampling effort focuses on key Atlantic maritime areas: between Iceland and the Strait of Gibraltar, between mainland Portugal and the Azores, and inter-island connections in the Canary Islands. During each campaign, data collection combines the work of on-board Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) with simultaneous recordings from thermal and visual cameras. This methodology allows the team to evaluate technology performance across different environmental and climatic scenarios, as illustrated in the attached map showing the recorded detections.
To ensure representative results, the thermal systems have been installed and tested on three types of vessels with distinct operational profiles: fast ferries (Fred. Olsen Express), cargo ships (Transinsular), and research vessels (CIIMAR, Marine Institute, Atlantic Technological University, Havstovan Faroe Marine Research Institue, NIOZ - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research). In this way, it is possible to assess equipment effectiveness considering different navigation environments, speeds, mounting heights, and observational conditions.
With final results currently being prepared for upcoming publication, field observations convey a clear message: the time has come to start applying this technology for automated cetacean detection. Although infrared thermography faces inherent limitations in the marine environment, it has reached a sufficient level of maturity to serve as a valuable support tool for crews on board.