Scientists add more underwater robots to monitor endangered North Atlantic right whales

In the race to protect the endangered species, researchers are bringing in more underwater robots—unmanned vehicles known as gliders that slowly patrol the Gulf of St. Lawrence, passively listening for whales.

Across vast waters, the North Atlantic right whale is tough to spot.

In the race to protect the endangered species, researchers are bringing in more underwater robots—unmanned vehicles known as gliders that slowly patrol the Gulf of St. Lawrence, passively listening for whales.

Gliders can stay at sea for months, move far offshore and work in all types of weather. They’re equipped with underwater microphones that scientists use to track the animals.

“All marine mammals make sounds. The ocean is an acoustic world,” said Kimberley Davies, Associate Professor of biological sciences at UNB, in an interview with CTVNews.ca.

The team added a third glider to its fleet this summer, expanding its ability to monitor whales’ whereabouts by sea and air. It’s collaborative effort involving researchers from University of New Brunswick, Ocean Tracking Network, Transport Canada and Woods Hole Oceanographic.

“What’s at stake here is the survival of North Atlantic right whales into the future,” said Davies.

Each summer, North Atlantic right whales migrate north in search of food, and in recent years, they’ve moved into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a busy shipping corridor between hubs like Toronto and Montreal, and global ports.