Can Technology Save the Whales?

Machine learning, the cloud, and crowdsourcing boost global effort

In the summer of 2023, a video went viral showing an orca whales “attacking” hundreds of sailboat competing The Ocean Race, a premier around-the-world race featuring the world’s most talented sailors. It was not the first time this had happened. Orcas are intelligent, social whales, and a sub-population of about 50 whales has begun interacting with all kinds of boats operating off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. They seem to be particularly drawn to the fin rudders of sailboats and have “attacked over 600 sailboats in the area since may 2020, sinking at least five.

Reading through the comments from skippers who have encounters with orcas off the Iberian peninsula…Read More