NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI), has announced a groundbreaking $500,000 agreement aimed at bolstering efforts to save the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale species from extinction. The move comes as part of President Biden’s ambitious Investing in America agenda, financed by the historic Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history.
With only around 360 North Atlantic right whales left, including a distressingly low number of fewer than 70 reproductively active females, the species faces looming threats primarily from entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change.
Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, emphasized the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act’s investment, stating that it enables a historic effort to mitigate threats to the imperiled species and enhance monitoring through cutting-edge technologies.
The collaboration between NOAA Fisheries and NASA’s CoECI aims to identify, advance, and develop innovative technologies, particularly in satellite tags and whale detection systems, to mitigate the risk of vessel strikes—the foremost threat to the survival of North Atlantic right whales. By harnessing new technologies, NOAA Fisheries seeks to enhance the understanding of whale locations, enabling swift responses from ocean users when right whales are detected.
Steve Rader, program manager for CoECI at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, highlighted the power of open innovation in advancing technology and scientific discovery for ecological preservation, expressing NASA’s eagerness to contribute to this critical endeavor.
The agreement aligns with NOAA Fisheries’ commitment to the recovery and conservation of North Atlantic right whales. It supports the objectives outlined in the North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy while directly contributing to the North Atlantic Right Whale Road to Recovery—a comprehensive plan addressing threats to the species and monitoring recovery progress.
Notably, this collaboration builds upon past joint efforts between NOAA Fisheries and NASA, including a global technology search for innovative solutions to detect on-demand fishing gear. The new agreement signifies a strengthened partnership between the agencies.
This initiative represents a crucial component of NOAA Fisheries’ broader plans for North Atlantic right whale recovery, supported by $82 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. These investments are part of a comprehensive $3.3 billion package aimed at enhancing community and economic resilience to climate change, underlining the government’s commitment to safeguarding endangered species and ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.
Leave a Reply