In the coming months, five more buoys will be placed on the waterway between the mainland and the island of Chiloé. Nine different whale species live here, including the largest population of blue whales in the southern hemisphere.
“Whales are real ecosystem engineers, they are key species in the well-being of the oceans and in the fight against climate change. So the installation of this buoy is very good news. This early warning system will help us avoid collisions between ships and whales,” said Chilean Environment Minister Maisa Rojas.
Whales can be spotted
The buoys are equipped with acoustic sensors and locate whales in the area. If they record cetaceans, they send a real-time signal to the Chilean Navy, which alerts ships nearby. Captains must then slow down or change the direction of travel.
Whales suffer from noise pollution
Increasing noise from ship engines, military sonar or underwater construction work puts whales at risk. Because cetaceans use sounds to orient themselves, search for food, and communicate with other species, they may be startled when exposed to high levels of noise.
(SDA)