Enhanced Whale Protection: Unveiling the Revamped Whale Report App on Our Site
In a groundbreaking move to protect endangered whale populations, a new and improved Whale Report app has been launched. The app, available for download on both the App Store and Google Play Store, is designed to help mariners avoid whale strikes, one of the leading human-caused threats to large whales globally.
The app offers several key features and benefits, all aimed at providing real-time, actionable information to mariners. These include real-time whale alerts, customizable alert delivery, community sighting reports, integration of Indigenous and scientific knowledge, reduction of unnecessary alerts, and support for vessel noise reduction.
Mariners can now receive notifications when a detected whale is within 10 nautical miles of their vessel, allowing for timely speed adjustments or course changes to reduce collision risk. Alerts can be received as text messages, push notifications, or other formats tailored to user preferences, enhancing usability and response efficiency for different vessel operators.
Users can also report whale sightings, including live, injured, or dead whales, as well as marine hazards or vessel strikes. These reports are shared in real-time with researchers and government authorities, facilitating rapid response and adaptive management measures such as temporary speed restrictions in dynamic management areas.
The app incorporates guidelines from both western science and Indigenous experts to inform slow-down zones and other voluntary measures, improving relevance to local whale behaviours and habitats. It is also refined to avoid alert fatigue by filtering out excessive or irrelevant notifications.
In specific areas, alerts advise vessels to turn off sonar when at anchor to minimize noise disturbance to sensitive species like beluga whales. The app's alert system is supported by funding and partnerships from various organizations including the Government of Canada, DP World, and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
It's important to note that global shipping routes overlap with 92% of migration routes for blue, fin, humpback, and sperm whales. Fewer than 7% of these global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have any protection measures in place. A conservative estimate indicates that 20,000 whales are struck fatally by ships each year.
Over 200,000 whale-vessel encounters have been mitigated thanks to sightings reported by individuals through the original WhaleReport app. The new app, a revitalized and unified version of the WhaleReport app and Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), aims to further reduce this number.
Qualified operators must register with a professional email to gain access to the real-time alerts. Access for mariners is granted within two business days upon approval. Data for the app is provided by several organizations including OWSN observers, Southern Gulf Islands Whale Sightings Network, and WhaleSpotter.
Between 1992 and 2013, shipping traffic increased by 300%. This collaborative, technology-driven approach helps mariners actively avoid whale strikes by promoting speed reduction in whale hotspots, enhancing whale protection while maintaining safe shipping practices. The app thereby serves as a critical tool in safeguarding vulnerable whale populations from ship collisions through improved awareness, communication, and adaptive vessel operations.
The Whale Report app was launched on July 7, 2025. With its launch, mariners and the general public can play a significant role in protecting these magnificent creatures from the dangers posed by shipping.
- The Whale Report app, now available on both App Store and Google Play Store, also focuses on environmental science, providing resources for sustainable living by promoting awareness about climate change and the impact on the marine environment.
- To expand its reach, the app integrates gadgets like smartphones and interfaces with home-and-garden devices to offer multiple alert delivery formats, catering to different user lifestyles.
- Furthermore, the app encourages technological advancements in the industry, supporting initiatives aimed at developing more eco-friendly shipping methods and reducing the carbon footprint of maritime operations.
- In addition to protecting whales, the Whale Report app's data and research contributes to the broader field of environmental science, fostering a better understanding of climate change and its effects on the environment, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.
