Residents along the coast of British Columbia are opening their properties to host whale detection technology. This initiative aims to protect marine mammals that traverse the region. Suzette Alvarez and Marshall Farris, who own an oceanfront home near Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast, installed a live camera and hydrophone in May 2024. The camera is directed toward the Malaspina Strait, while the hydrophone is submerged 20 meters deep to capture underwater sounds from vessels and marine life.

"These animals are precious. They're magnificent ... and we need to do what we can to protect them," Alvarez stated. The couple is personally covering the costs for power and internet to support the devices.

In recent weeks, three humpback whales have died and one was injured after being struck by vessels in the area. This alarming trend has prompted residents like Alvarez to deploy technology that can help detect whales and potentially enhance their protection, according to scientists.

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a non-profit organization, operates the camera and hydrophone, collecting data to monitor marine life. Valeria Vergara, a scientist with the foundation, noted, "This is something that is quite needed there ... this area is really undersampled acoustically."

The foundation's research focuses on tracking at-risk marine mammal species by analyzing their vocalizations and the impact of noise pollution from boats and other human activities. Vergara emphasized the growing concern over underwater noise, stating, "Noise transmits very, very well in water and about four to five times faster than in air."

The camera and hydrophone can be viewed live on YouTube, providing educational opportunities while scientists work to preserve endangered marine mammals off the B.C. coast. Vergara explained that sound is crucial for humpback whales and orcas, as it is their primary means of communication and hunting. "To listen to a singing humpback and then suddenly boat noise obliterates that song, it's a really good way to get the general public and policymakers to understand just how dire the situation is," she said.

Chris Roper, another resident on Pender Island, has also joined the effort by hosting an infrared thermal camera called WhaleSpotter on his property. This camera, part of the W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians program, helps monitor southern resident killer whales. Roper remarked, "There's lots of work to do to coexist with exceptional amounts of shipping and marine mammals."

Daniel Zitterbart, chief scientist at WhaleSpotter, explained how the camera uses artificial intelligence to detect whale presence. It identifies the temperature difference of a whale's blow in real time, with alerts verified by a person within 30 seconds to a minute. "In British Columbia right now, we have over 10 cameras distributed," Zitterbart said. "We have a science-backed solution now, which is capable of providing protection at a very high level."

Roper's property is located above a whale sanctuary where vessel traffic is restricted during certain times of the year. He noted the increasing noise levels in the area, which are evident from the hydrophone data.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientist Harald Yurk highlighted the importance of these detection devices, stating, "The technology is one of the tools that can be used, but it's not like the magic wand. It is a combination of all of those."

Yurk suggested that the technology could help implement speed limits of 10 to 12 knots in areas where whales are detected, potentially reducing the risk of fatal collisions. Alvarez, who rents out her Sunshine Coast property, hopes that visitors will develop a connection with the whales. "It helps you to feel like they're part of you, part of your ecosystem, part of what you want to protect," she said.