WhaleSpotter Launches in San Francisco Bay as Gray Whale Population Halves to 13,000
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 20
WhaleSpotter Launches in San Francisco Bay as Gray Whale Population Halves to 13,000
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 20
San Francisco Bay this week began using WhaleSpotter, an AI network that detects whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away and sends near-real-time alerts for ships to slow or reroute.
At least 10 gray whales have already died in the Bay Area this year after 21 were found dead in 2025—the most in 25 years—with at least 40% of those deaths tied to ship strikes.
Researchers say more gray whales are lingering in the bay’s busiest corridor between Angel Island, Alcatraz and Treasure Island as climate change disrupts Arctic feeding grounds and leaves animals weaker during migration.
The system pairs AI detections with human verification and official mariner alerts, a first integration of land-based and vessel-mounted monitoring in the bay; early testing immediately logged heavy whale activity.
NOAA says the eastern North Pacific gray whale population has fallen by half over the past decade to about 13,000, while warming waters are also pushing humpbacks into fishing gear off California.
How will this whale-saving AI scale globally when over 10,000 are struck each year?
Can this new AI save whales, or will it help shippers avoid stricter speed limits?
Gray Whale Deaths Surge in San Francisco Bay: Population Plummets to 13,000 as AI Alert System Fights Vessel Strikes
Overview
San Francisco Bay has become a critical hotspot for the crisis facing Eastern North Pacific gray whales, with a surge in deaths observed from 2025 to 2026. This alarming trend is linked to the unusual presence of gray whales in the Bay, as many arrive in poor condition, using it as an emergency feeding stop due to food shortages in their traditional Arctic habitats. Most whales seen in the Bay do not return, highlighting the severity of their situation. This local crisis reflects a broader, ongoing decline in the overall gray whale population, driven by environmental changes and disrupted migration patterns.