Whale Guardians Field Journal - Innovations and Insights from Ocean Innovation Africa

Last week, I (Gregory Vogt - our regional director in Africa) attended Ocean Innovation Africa at the International Conference Centre with the intention of networking on behalf of the Whale Guardians data collection initiative. The event provided an excellent platform to connect with professionals dedicated to ocean conservation and innovation.

On the second day of the conference, five expert workshops were held, all centred on developing innovations to reduce harm to the oceans and support blue economy principles. These sessions showcased emerging technologies and creative approaches to safeguarding marine environments.

I chose to participate in the AI workshop, which was attended predominantly by academics specialising in ocean research, AI professionals, and several government officials. The discussions reaffirmed what I had discovered during the conceptualisation of the data collection device and platforms: AI becomes truly effective when it is supported by accurate and reliable data.

Innovators Along the SA Coast

Throughout my journey along the South African coast, developing methods to access marine mammal data, I met numerous innovators focused on capturing such information. Their projects utilised sophisticated technologies, including satellite tracking for marine mammal locations and specialised camera systems for identification and imagery. Despite their innovative approaches, many were seeking seed capital starting at US$5-10 million, and University researchers were often more concerned with their dissertations than urgently seeking solutions to obtain precise data for conservationists striving to mitigate ship strike threats to marine mammals.

Harnessing AI for Research and Data Analysis

Having previously published on Researchgate with Padova University, I found it straightforward to access publications across various platforms. However, organising and analysing these papers presented a challenge - one that AI addressed efficiently. By uploading publications to AI for sorting and analysis, I streamlined my research process. Furthermore, instructing AI to identify relevant publications I might have missed, proved insightful. A notable moment from the AI workshop at Ocean Innovation Africa was an expert’s introduction to the concept of AI hallucination. Indeed, AI can hallucinate, especially when users mistakenly believe it is the ultimate solution to all challenges.

The workshop highlighted several caveats when employing AI, including bias in data, pirated data, and chaf - large volumes of low-value information.

In the realm of gathering data to inform ships about high-risk zones for marine mammals, biased data is most frequently encountered. This occurs when data collected for one purpose is repurposed for another, often due to a lack of suitable alternatives.

The Whale Guardian™ - a marine mammal GPS devicE

The Whale Guardian™ data collection device underpins our mission to collect high-integrity data. Its purpose is to gather marine mammal positions from ships travelling established routes. As we scale the project, our data collection will expand, filling gaps in data availability and populating blind spots. This initiative is not a quick fix. It will require time, education, and ongoing communication with those willing to become part of the solution.

Lessons from the SA Coastline

My 4,000km journey along the beautiful South-African coast, engaging with maritime practitioners, taught me a standout lesson.

Most individuals working in the ocean, including those in marine mammal tourism, were unaware that ship strikes pose the greatest threat to our great whales.

They felt disconnected from this reality, believing they had little role to play in resolving the issue, aside from supporting those actively working to make a difference.

The Whale Guardians data collection platform, however, changed this perspective entirely. When a device was placed in their hands, ship strike mitigation for marine mammals became tangible, and they immediately felt empowered to contribute to the solution.

The story of Suzi (4th picture)

​Suzi was first spotted floating off Danger Point in September 2005 and eventually washed ashore at Pearly Beach. ​It was determined that she was killed by a collision with a ship.

To highlight the reality of ship strikes, the specific areas of the skeleton damaged by the impact were painted in a contrasting color during the restoration process to serve as an educational tool.

​The recovery and restoration was a massive seven-year project led by Wilfred Chivell (founder of Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust) and taxidermist Piet Pretorius.

​The bones were left outside for over two years to allow natural decomposition of the fat.

​They were then treated in specialized enzyme tanks and cleaned with germicides. ​Missing or shattered bones were painstakingly remoulded to complete the frame.

The skeleton, which weighs approximately two tons, was hoisted into the ceiling of the Great White House over three nights in May 2012. Local legend says the team fueled the final assembly with "10 pizzas."