WhaleSpotter Scales Globally to Detect Whales and Prevent Strikes

AI-powered system delivers expert-verified whale presence alerts to combat rising whale strike deaths

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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WhaleSpotter, a company born from research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has announced the global scaling of its operations to protect whales by delivering real-time whale presence alerts with 99% efficacy, even in total darkness. The system is designed to significantly reduce whale strike risk by providing captains enough lead time to take effective evasive action without compromising efficient operation.

Why it matters

Collisions are the leading cause of death for large whale species worldwide, and the demand for industrial-scale solutions has reached a critical tipping point. WhaleSpotter's technology aims to eliminate the binary choice between global commerce and marine biodiversity conservation by providing the visibility required for the industry to operate responsibly.

The details

WhaleSpotter's thermal imaging allows for uninterrupted 24/7 whale detection, keeping projects on schedule even in total darkness. The expert verification also provides vetted data for informed decision making and regulatory reporting. With nearly 100 systems deployed globally, WhaleSpotter has reached a critical scale, detecting more than 3,000 whales per day with near-zero false alerts.

  • WhaleSpotter was born from pioneering research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
  • WhaleSpotter recently reached a major commercial milestone through its landmark partnership with Matson Navigation Company, the first container shipping company to deploy this advanced technology at scale.
  • WhaleSpotter has unveiled a bold new visual identity, including a refined logo and a redesigned website, marking this commercial milestone.

The players

WhaleSpotter

An AI-powered, long-range system proven to significantly reduce whale strike risk by providing real-time whale presence alerts.

Shawn Henry

The CEO of WhaleSpotter, with over 30 years of experience bringing tech products to market and scaling startups into global enterprises.

Dr. Daniel Zitterbart

The Chief Scientist of WhaleSpotter, an Associate Scientist at WHOI and the head of the Marine Animal Remote Sensing Lab, with 15 years of marine mammal expertise and whale detection.

Theresa McLaughlin

The Chief Marketing Officer of WhaleSpotter, with over 30 years of experience transforming brands for major global financial institutions and earning prestigious honors, including an Emmy, a Cannes Lion, and multiple EFFIE Awards.

Matson Navigation Company

The first container shipping company to deploy WhaleSpotter's advanced technology at scale.

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What they’re saying

“With nearly 100 systems deployed, our mission has moved from the lab to the global stage. We have built an experienced executive team that blends world-class PhD scientists with top-notch business leaders to ensure we can scale as fast as the ocean demands. With close to a million miles protected, we are providing the visibility required for the industry to operate responsibly. Our goal is to help mariners see what lies ahead and protect what lives below.”

— Shawn Henry, CEO of WhaleSpotter (EINPresswire.com)

“With over 250,000 whale detections to date, WhaleSpotter has reached critical scale. By deploying this technology in the most demanding real-world environments from the Antarctic to the tropics, we are proving that we can finally eliminate the binary choice between global commerce and marine biodiversity conservation.”

— Dr. Dan Zitterbart, Associate Scientist at WHOI and co-inventor of the technology (EINPresswire.com)

What’s next

WhaleSpotter plans to continue expanding its global network of systems to further protect whales and enable responsible maritime operations worldwide.

The takeaway

WhaleSpotter's AI-powered, expert-verified whale detection technology is a critical solution to the growing problem of whale strikes, allowing for the coexistence of global commerce and marine biodiversity conservation.