SPACEWHALE for designating Marine Protected Areas

BioConsult SH’s new service SPACEWHALE counts whales and other wildlife species from space using satellite imagery. These images are screened and evaluated in a semi-automatic process combining state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and quality assurance by marine mammal experts.

SPACEWHALE can answer key questions about how many whales of which species inhabit a sea area of interest and when they occur. We can study previously completely unexplored areas and help accelerating the designation of Marine Protected Areas, provide environmental impact assessments for offshore wind farm operators and offer an efficient tool for mandatory baseline monitoring of whale populations. Within this Decade Action, we are conducting a study together with WDC to map the distribution and abundance of whales over an area of 4,000 km² in the Indian Ocean. These data will, for the first time, be central to evidence presented in support of the designation of Important Marine Mammal Areas.

Start Date:  01/06/2022
End Date:  31/12/2030

Lead Contact: Julika Voss (spacewhale@bioconsult-sh.de)