Leveraging AIS Technology to Protect Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales

Traditional whale protection measures rely on static speed zones or voluntary compliance, often leaving gaps in enforcement. The AIS-based solution, implemented by MotionInfo, provides real-time vessel alerts, warning mariners when they enter active whale zones or exceed speed limits.

• Targeted Alerts: Unlike broad speed restrictions, AIS technology pinpoints areas where whales are actively present.
• High Compliance Rates: In a recent 20-day study, 83% of vessels slowed to 10 knots after receiving an AIS alert.
• Scalable and Flexible: This system can be expanded along the U.S. East Coast to provide real-time protection for whales in key habitats.

MotionInfo’s Role in the Solution

As a leading provider of AIS technology, MotionInfo is deploying its A.W.A.R.E. network (AIS Warning & Response Engagement) to integrate marine mammal monitoring data with automated, real-time communication systems.

Currently, AIS stations have been installed in Cape Cod Bay, Virginia Beach, Jacksonville, and Brunswick, GA, with expansion plans covering North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey. This network will ultimately form a seamless protection system for whales along the Atlantic seaboard.

For organizations and communities interested in becoming a StationKeeper—hosting an AIS station to support this initiative—learn more at MotionInfo.com.

A Future Where Technology and Conservation Work Together

With vessel strikes remaining one of the leading causes of whale deaths, innovative solutions like AIS-based tracking and alerts offer a practical, effective way to reduce collisions without disrupting maritime industries. The partnership between IFAW, MotionInfo, and conservation leaders is proving that technology can bridge the gap between conservation and commerce—protecting both whales and the people who share the ocean with them.

To learn more about how you can support this effort, visit IFAW’s Right Whale Initiative or explore MotionInfo’s role in this groundbreaking project at MotionInfo.com.