Using passive acoustic monitoring from gliders for near realtime detection and dynamic management of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Laurentian Channel Dynamic Shipping Zones

Abstract

The goal of this project was to use right whale detections made by the glider to trigger dynamic vessel management in the traffic separation scheme within Dynamic Shipping Zone C (DSZ C). A profiling glider equipped with a hydrophone system was deployed for an 89-day mission from August 16th through November 10th, 2020. The glider reported daily detections of five species of baleen whales that were validated by a trained human analyst before being distributed to Transport Canada. The glider detected right whales in DSZ C on seven survey days. In response to the glider detections, the speed limit was in place in DSZ C for 32.5 days, or 47.8 % of the survey period. On October 23rd, 2020, the glider departed DSZ C and was recovered near the west shore of Cape Breton on 12 November. The false detection rate for right whale detections at the daily scale was 0%, and the false negative rate for this species at the daily scale was 12.5%, which is within normal operating parameters for this system. The mission objectives were successfully fulfilled.