The Sperm Whale Project

One of the goals of the Sperm Whale Project has been to improve the knowledge on the sperm whale groups, in our waters, to be able to work for their conservation.

 

The Sperm Whale project aims to record distribution on and abundance of Sperm whales around São Miguel; to Increase and improve the Photo-identification (Photo ID) catalogue of Sperm whales around Azores; to compare the Photo ID catalogue with catalogues from other islands (focusing the effort on the Macaronesia region) in order to be er understand the distribution and areas of importance for the sperm whales sighted around the island; to Estimate size and me use of areas frequented by group units of Sperm whales encountered in the study area; to register habitat, use as to activity and spacial distribution on with particular focus on the surface waters; to relate activity and behavior with simultaneously recorded sound production; to collect information in regard to natural behavior of Sperm whales, both on individual and group level; to gather more information as to feeding patterns and prey composition on individual and group level; to study morphometrics in relation to age class and gender; to evaluate body health of the animals present; to measure group unit size and group constitution of the Sperm whale groups encountered; to bring more information onto clan constitution of group units present in these waters; to estimate re-sighting rates; and to attain better understanding of the baleen whales behavior and population dynamics in the area.

 

AI Fin Recognition

Sea Colors Expeditions has developed an AI tool for the automatic identification of cetaceans, developing algorithms that analyse photographs of flukes, dorsal fins, patterns, and scars to differentiate between individual animals.

 

Over the course of our long-term research, we have built an extensive photo database for cetacean identification, helping us track and monitor individual animals and populations over time. This AI tool accelerates the process by enabling researchers to quickly identify individuals through AI-driven pattern recognition, reducing the time required for this non-invasive method.

 

 

 

 

 

App On Sea

From the very first expeditions we began collecting data using paper datasheets and well trained captains who recorded all their daily sightings as well as their behavior. All these information was collected and at the end of the season all data were imported in a database – by hand, sheet by sheet, trip by trip.

 

Time is changing and the need of data in real time for our research work has moved to an other level of data collecting. In stead of paper sheets we have developed an app who will record the sightings in a standardized way and no aspects will be missed. Even more information than the sightings are included now in our data, like weather or sea information by web services.

 

 

Whales Sat Project

The main goal of the satellite project is the development of an algorithm to identify whales in the Azores waters, including remote areas, via satellite observation, as well as to combine the information with additional satellite information, like surface water temperature or atmospheric changes like air quality, ozone, radiation and climate monitoring from the Sentinel satellites. Based on this information the model will be expanded for the Northern Atlantic and can be used around the globe for a full analyse of the behavior of marine mammals under the focus of climate change and human impacts, too.

 

The use of high resolution imagery is a potential solution for broad scale monitoring of whales. This method results in a large volume of data, impossible to classify manually. Machine learning algorithms can automate this process, identifying the images with a very high probability of containing whales.

 

Sea Colors is dealing with two neural network models for identifying these cetaceans. Ridge Regressions seems not to be a good method, but with the Support Vector Classifier and Convolutional Neural Network the best results can be achieved.

 

Whales Acoustic

This project aims to better understand cetacean distribution and habitat use in our waters, in response to the pressing need for baseline information on cetaceans in this data-poor area. This Passive Acoustic Monitoring project aims to fill important knowledge gaps and specifically investigate the temporal and spatial distribution of vocalizing cetaceans and also an opportunity to characterize temporal and spatial variability in noise levels around Whale Watching vessels activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t Buy It

“Swimming With Dolphins” – Don’t Buy It is one of Sea Colors Expeditions oldest campaigns, aimed to protect dolphins from tourism pressure, due to its commercialization as a specific “product”.

 

While main touristic companies sell this activity for many years, dolphins demonstrate most of the time activities and behaviours that not support such activity in a non-intrusive way, concerning to boats approach and manner of people entering the water. The only ethical and serene way to perform in-water observation in their natural environment is when dolphins invite and show allowance, in their natural and free behaviour.

 

Selling this activity as a product, demands for constant “swimming with dolphins” tours leading to intrusive practices that harm dolphins, stressing and forcing them to alter their natural behaviour.

 

The successful completion of “swimming with dolphins” activity is strongly dependent on the behaviour of the dolphins and several other factors, so we consider that, when met with a group, this activity can only be performed after evaluating several important factors, including: the species; the number of dolphins in the group; the concentration of the group; the pace of the group or its speed; the constant or deviating course of the dolphins; the interval between group dives; the presence of calves; if the group is feeding; if they are socializing; if they are traveling; if they are mating; if they are curious; the health status of dolphins; if there are more groups spotted; the sea conditions; the presence of vessels; etc.

 

A crew with the experience and sensitivity to those factors can fully understand when they should not even attempt “swimming with dolphins”. Unfortunately, the need for crews to “accomplish” the trade “swimming with dolphins”, shows that reality is quite different.

 

Since many years, including on the Whale Heritage Site Meeting, in 2015, we have been expressing our concern over the commercialization of “swimming with dolphins” as a sub-modality of “whale watching.” The growing number of whale-watching tourists makes it incompatible with dolphin swimming as a product, and the impossibility of a daily official supervision leads to ongoing pressure on the dolphins.

 

Legislation aims to protect species, but allowing selling dolphin swimming as a product, makes not possible its intent, disregarding animal welfare in favour of economic interests.

 

To ensure animal welfare and tourism quality, we believe the sale of “swimming with dolphins” should be prohibited, letting in-water observation optional only when animals are displaying inviting behaviors.  Without the pressure to perform this activity, by not having sold it, crews would prioritize the animals’ well-being and avoid disturbing their natural behaviour.