Whales to transmit AIS data

D

Duffer

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Mar 2006
Messages
719
Visit site
Concerned by the increasing number of whale strikes - which have potentially life-threatening consequences for both whales and yachtsmen - the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is to attach AIS transmitters to all of the larger whale species over the next 12 months. The waterproof devices will trail an aerial which will be operational when the whale is at or near the surface (less than 60 feet deep). The devices have already been successfully trialed on common seals in the Channel. Attached in the same way as a satellite tag it will use the change in water pressure when the animal dives to power the streamlined device which weighs just 395g. The IMO is working with Greenpeace and WWF to switch off the devices remotely by satellite when the endangered cetaceans approach whaling areas, using WEPP technology (Whale Electronic Protection Protocol) to protect the sea-going mammals from hunting.

Commenting on the news RJK said "The risk of colliding with whales is very real. Fitting them with AIS makes a lot more sense than attaching it to buoys which are clearly charted and show up well on radar. The data should also be invaluable for environmentalists. If this is successful there is no reason why a simplified device shouldn't be fitted to all sea-going containers which also pose a significant risk when washed overboard".

To avoid confusion a whale-shaped icon will be displayed on most chartplotters when a whale is detected and several leading manufacturers including Raymarine, Garmin, Simrad and Lowrance have announced that their displays will be compatible. A free software update is available your manufacturer or from the French developer's website www.poissond'avril.com. It is hoped that all adult whales will be fitted by next year and in the future larger shark species will also be protected.

Claims that whales will transmit their songs via the devices are believed to be without foundation although this capability could be added soon. The transmitters are too bulky to be used to track seahorses.
 
TiggerToo said:
whales are not fish... :mad:

back to school you dunce
Click to expand...

I didn't say they were! The transmitters are a development of the French company's fish tagging business. It is hoped to tag sharks in the future (which are fish) provided the taggers are brave enough... Are seahorses fish?
 
Seven Spades said:
That will please the Japs, it will make hunting them much easier.
Click to expand...

Hence the use of WEPP technology (see para 1). This will be more problematic with sharks which are widely hunted for their fins to the point where some species are seriously endangered.
 
Csail said:
They are also fitting transponders to all birds so aircraft can see them.
Click to expand...

Don't be silly! At 395g the unit weighs almost as much as half a medium-sized pair of coconuts. A flock of birds would generate more AIS targets than the Round the Island Race if everyone had their transponders switched on!

Satellite tracking devices have already been successfully attached to migrating birds and even video cameras to large birds of prey.
 
Duffer said:
Don't be silly! At 395g the unit weighs almost as much as half a medium-sized pair of coconuts. A flock of birds would generate more AIS targets than the Round the Island Race if everyone had their transponders switched on!

Satellite tracking devices have already been successfully attached to migrating birds and even video cameras to large birds of prey.
Click to expand...

Indeed, they have.

One bit of geographic wizardry I had to advise on was in the early days of these devices. At that time, the number of sensors was very limited, and only day/night and time of day (GMT) were available for navigation. It turns out that you can estimate latitude from the length of day, and of course longitude falls out from the time measurement.
 
Duffer said:
Don't be silly! At 395g the unit weighs almost as much as half a medium-sized pair of coconuts.
Click to expand...

Could they not be fitted to swallows in that case? Although I guess they would need to be African swallows...

Glad to hear the whale threat is being taken seriously, and yet another reason to get AIS ;)
 
nmeyrick said:
Could they not be fitted to swallows in that case? Although I guess they would need to be African swallows...

Glad to hear the whale threat is being taken seriously, and yet another reason to get AIS ;)
Click to expand...

Half a medium-sized pair of coconuts weighs nearly 465g on average so I doubt even an African swallow could carry the AIS unit on its migration. It might manage a short test flight perhaps. On the other hand a Wandering Albatross would be able to swoop and soar across the oceans barely cognisant of its load... although not many people would come within range of its transmissions so there doesn't seem much point.
 
I have received a PM raising various queries including what happens if you don't update your chartplotter. As some people don't seem to be taking this development entirely seriously, I'll repeat the answers here. As the icon will look the same as any other target it will be rather disconcerting if a whale swims under your boat. However if you look at the info panel the name will be "Whale" followed by its unique identification number. If you make a note of this and look it up on the company's database you will be able to ascertain the type of whale, its age and sex. Researchers will be able to track its movements in real time. More info from www.whaleofatail.com/whaleID .

The antenna is fairly brittle so if you hit it with your prop the aerial will break without hurting your prop or the whale. Transmission range will however be reduced: at present this is 5NM at best. The unit uses piezo electricity generated by changes in water pressure to power transmissions. Paddle wheels were tried but found to be too prone to clogging...

At £250 each the units will be too expensive to attach to dolphins, porpoises etc. As they rarely collide with ships or yachts, cheaper GPS tracking units should suffice to monitor these smaller mammals. The first sharks to be protected will be whale sharks followed by Great Whites which should prove popular with beachgoers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Y
Vespermarine XB-6000 AIS transponder
2
Replies
24
Views
453
PaulRainbow
PaulRainbow

Share this page

Top