Boaters in Europe can now use the Whale Alert app
Image courtesy of DJI Mavic and Phantom 4 Pro drones.
A new Whale Alert mobile app, which has just launched in Europe, is designed to help avoid and flag whale interactions.
Originally launched in North America in 2012, the Whale Alert app is now officially available across Europe thanks to a new partnership with innovation company Greenov. Designed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Conserve.IO, the free app allows users to report and receive real-time alerts on whale sightings – giving both recreational and commercial vessels a better chance to avoid collisions that can prove fatal for whales.
And the scale of the problem is no small thing. With over two million vessels moving through European waters every year – many sharing the same space as feeding, breeding and migratory routes – ship strikes are a constant threat to whales and other sea life. For every confirmed whale strike, animal welfare campaigners estimate 20 more go undetected or unreported.
“Every year, countless whales are killed in collisions with ships, and experts warn that reported cases might only be the tip of the iceberg,” says Aurore Morin, IFAW’s senior campaigner. “For every documented ship strike, it’s estimated a further 20 whales go unreported. Human activity is taking a devastating toll on whales in their natural habitat, threatening their survival.
“Whale Alert provides that crucial missing link, empowering everyone at sea – whether they are recreational boaters or commercial ship captains, to help protect whales … before it’s too late.”
The latest version (v4.0) comes with new features tailored for European waters, including built-in protected areas, guidance on local marine mammal measures and a collision-risk indicator based on your vessel’s speed, size and position. Users can even earn a ‘trusted observer’ status by making multiple certified sightings.
“Alerts work using the built-in GPS technology in smartphones and tablets,” explains Virgil Zetterlind, co-founder of Conserve.IO. “The application notifies users when they are near a whale and allows them to adapt their route and speed to help avoid a collision, while making it easier to navigate in a network of overlapping and evolving conservation areas and shipping lanes.”
Damien Demoor, founder and CEO at Greenov adds: “Whale Alert allows ocean lovers and maritime professionals to be involved in protecting whales while remaining informed of the regulations in place before and during navigation, with instructions on how to behave and areas to slow down or avoid if a cetacean has recently been spotted.”
The Whale Alert app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
