Smart Buoy ‘hears’ The Sea To Protect Whales Against Ship Collisions 

Chilean scientists use high-tech buoys to protect migratory whales. Such equipment is able to “hear” the ocean and track climate change.

In this way, the country’s authorities help the conservation of endangered whales. Thanks to “smart” buoys, animals avoid collisions with ships on their migration routes from Antarctica to the equator. The first buoy has been installed in Corcovado Bay, about 1,100 kilometers south of Chile’s capital. This project was one of the first under the Blue Boat initiative to protect whales and monitor marine ecosystems.

The equipment is powered by Listening to the Deep Ocean Environment (LIDO) software, which tracks sounds and uses artificial intelligence to identify marine mammals, their type and location in real time. It alerts nearby ships so they can reduce noise and avoid collisions. The device also contains sensors for water temperature, oxygen levels and more to monitor the state of the ocean and the impact of climate change.