Whales are showing up in San Francisco Bay. New ship alerts could help protect them

Article excerpt

Gray whales, drawn into San Francisco Bay by shifting ocean conditions tied to climate change, face a deadly hazard: cargo ships and ferries. The waters that once offered refuge now present collision risks that have killed whales in recent years. A new camera system, installed at the Golden Gate Bridge and other chokepoints, aims to alert vessel operators to whale presence in real time, giving ships a chance to slow down or change course. The technology represents one of the first coordinated efforts to reduce strikes as warming waters push marine mammals into busier shipping lanes.