Sea.AI Joins European Effort to Protect Atlantic Whales 

Sea.AI has announced its involvement in the European Union’s ATLANTIC WHALE DEAL project—a collaborative initiative uniting conservationists, scientists and engineers to help prevent ship collisions with whales in the Atlantic. 

In partnership with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) and the University of La Laguna (ULL), Sea.AI will supply its AI-powered machine vision systems, designed to detect and classify objects on the water’s surface. This technology will help scientists monitor whale movements in real time, supporting research, data collection, and the development of preventative strategies. 

Whales play a vital role in maintaining marine ecosystems, particularly in carbon storage. Yet, busy maritime traffic puts them at significant risk. The new initiative aims to identify high-risk zones and reduce collisions using technology-led solutions. 

With over 30 years of field expertise, the IWDG will lead whale monitoring efforts. Emilie De Loose, IWDG Project Leader, noted that combining their experience with Sea.AI’s real-time detection capabilities opens new avenues for conservation in increasingly congested shipping areas. 

ULL, based in the Canary Islands, contributes its knowledge in environmental systems and engineering. Carlos Efrén Mora Luis of ULL highlighted the importance of combining research and technology to better understand whale behaviour and reduce harmful interactions. 

Two successful field campaigns have already been completed, offering early insights into whale presence in key Atlantic zones. These findings are not only valuable for the immediate conservation goals of the ATLANTIC WHALE DEAL, but also for improving Sea.AI’s detection algorithms—benefiting maritime safety globally. 

For more information, visit: