Risk reporting and mitigation platform for cetaceans is now part of the records of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy (SHOA).
The Salmon Technology Institute (Intesal), together with Armasur and the WWF Chile, formed an alliance to implement an innovative platform that allows vessels to report whale sightings and activate preventive measures, such as reducing speed and changing navigation direction, in order to reduce the risk of collisions and reduce underwater noise. Now, this information has been officially integrated into the navigation maps of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy. (SHOA)
The initiative, named "Implementation of an early warning and registration system for small and large cetaceans to reduce interaction risks with the shipping industry in the southern Austral zone", was launched in 2021 as a response to the commitment made within the maritime-port working group of the Pact for a Sustainable and Inclusive Region, in the Los Lagos region. Since then, the platform has received more than 180 sighting reports in strategic areas such as the Moraleda Channel, Corcovado Gulf, Ancud Gulf and Deserted Islands.
The data collected on the platform, together with expert recommendations, allowed to establish that the recommended navigation speed in areas with high whale presence is 10 knots, a simple but highly effective measure to reduce collision risks. Now, this information has been officially incorporated into the SHOA records for navigators and pilotage.
"We are proud to have participated in this project in partnership with Armasur and WWF Chile, as well as satisfied with the results obtained. That the protection of the whales is recorded on official navigation maps is a significant achievement that demonstrates the commitment of the salmon farming and shipping sectors to the conservation of our marine ecosystems," said Felipe Tucca, Research Coordinator at Intesal.
The platform is voluntary, and its use has become part of the internal procedures of the companies that sail in the area. It is accessible through the link https://extranet.intesal.cl/cetaceos and is currently in the process of further development and expansion.
