smartWhales - DSS: Decision Support System

Montreal, Quebec

The endangered North Atlantic Right Whale faces a critical threat, with the possibility of becoming functionally extinct within the next 30 years, primarily because of fishing entanglement and collisions with vessels. In response, the Canadian Space agency, along with two other federal ministries, launched the smartWhales initiative to harness innovative solutions using Earth Observation technologies. WSP Canada led one of the consortiums in developing a Decision Support System (DSS) that provides near real-time predictions of whale movements in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, an invaluable tool for conservation efforts. This system combines hydrodynamic dynamic habitat, agent-based, marine traffic forecasting, and ecological risk models to produce collision and entanglement risk models, displayed in a unique interactive map.

The jury applauded the project for its significant contributions, including the protection of both fishermen and endangered species. The multidisciplinary efforts, along with the government’s timely implementation of the initiative demonstrated a strong commitment to future environmental stewardship.

For additional information on this project, click here.

Hear what the Jury Chair had to say about this project.