The WAVE Project aims to use Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to better understand whale watching vessel activities and inform conservation policies. Researchers from the University of Victoria have partnered with several whale watching operators in British Columbia to install AIS transponders on their vessels. Preliminary analysis found terrestrial AIS provided more frequent position reporting than satellite AIS. Next steps include installing more receivers and analyzing performance of new tracking technologies to provide industry with a low-cost, frequent vessel monitoring system to help manage operations and ensure compliance with guidelines.

1. WAVE Project
Whale-watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation
Rosaline Canessa1, Lauren McWhinnie1, Andrea Nesdoly1, Casey Hilliard2,
Alessia Scuderi3, Javier Garcia Sanabria3, Norma Serra-Sogas1
1 University of Victoria
2 Dalhousie University
3 University of Cadiz (Spain)
Funded by:
MEOPAR ASM 2019
June 14, 2019

2. Whale watching industry in British Columbia
• Stubbs Island Whale Watching, 1rst
whale watching operator in BC
(1980 – 2019)
• 47 operators in BC (from 2019
interned listings)
• Map shows number of whale
watching operators in BC per city
and town
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas

3. Whale watching industry in British Columbia
• 3 main whale watching centres
• Guidelines developed by the whale
watching industry have existed since
early 1990’s
 In 2018, DFO released Marine
Mammal Regulations which
include whale watching regulations
Queen Charlotte
/Johnstone Strait
NIMMSA (11 members)
Clayoquot Sound
PRATO (7 members)
Southern Vancouver Is.
PWWA (32 members)
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Source: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-
especes/mammals-mammiferes/watching-
observation/index-eng.html

4. The WAVE project
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Project objectives:
1. To increase the understanding of whale
watching activities by collecting and
analyzing vessel track data derived from AIS
2. To determine if AIS can be used to inform
whale watching operations, and
conservation policies and regulations
Areas of Interest: Salish Sea, west coast of
Vancouver Island, and Strait of Gibraltar.

5. What is Automatic Identification System (AIS)?
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Modified from ACR Electronics Inc.
SATELLITE AIS
SHIP TO
SATELLITE
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
AIS
TRANSPONDER
CLASS A AIS
CLASS B AIS
SHIP TO SHORE
SHIP TO SHIP
AIS is an automated and autonomous system developed to increase
navigation safety and collision avoidance.

6. AIS Class-A vs AIS Class-B transponders
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Source: White Paper on New AIS Class-B Standard. Digital Yatch. www.digitalyacht.co.uk
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas

7. AIS carriage regulations in Canada
(as per April 2019)
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas

8. exactEarth
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
“Founded in 2009, exactEarth was established for the purpose of making Satellite AIS data
services available to the global maritime market. Based in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada,
exactEarth leverages advanced microsatellite technology to deliver vessel monitoring
solutionscharacterised by high performance, reliability, security, and simplicity.”
(https://www.exactearth.com/company/profile)

9. What is exactTrax?
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Source: exactEarth
Class A
Vessel Class A
VesselClass B
Vessel
Class A
Vessel
Class A
VesselClass B with
exactTrax
Vessel
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
• ExactTrax is a unique technology that enables the transmission of Class B
transponders to be reliably received by exactEarth global satellite network.
• exactEarth provided 25 units equipped with exactTrax to this project.

10. Participating whale watching companies in BC (so far)
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
4 exactTrax
units
Already
had AIS on
all vessels
4 exactTrax
units
4 exactTrax
units
4 exactTrax
units
2 exactTrax
units
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas

11. What we learnt so far about AIS data in study areas
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Vessel tracks 16-23 August, 2018
Miss Chief from Ocean Outfitters
with Class B transponder (without exactTrax)
exactEarth Satellite AIS CCG Terrestrial Satellite AIS (ONC)
Reported positions = 12
Ave. Reporting rate ~1 h
Reported positions = 3,528
Ave. Reporting rate ~5 min

12. Whale watching industry needs
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
• A tracking system that provides frequent vessel reporting positions and
speeds (<5 min)
o For safety
o For operations management (vessel and fleet level)
• A system that provides information about where other whale watching
operators (and other vessels) are
o To avoid overcrowding (leads to less disturbance to whales and better client
experience)
o For industry self-monitoring to comply with government and association
guidelines
o Safety
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
• A system that is not disruptive to whale watching operations (often the
person operating the vessel is also the guide)
• A system that is inexpensive
• A system that can be integrated with other information (e.g., weather, sea
state, whale sighting data, management areas, etc…)

13. Next steps…
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
• Installation of terrestrial AIS receivers at UVic and Tofino
• Pursue the acquisition of CCG Terrestrial AIS data
• Analyze performance of exactTrax AIS Class B devices
• Comparative analysis of satellite and terrestrial AIS data in all
study areas
• Planning workshop with whale watching industry, fall 2019
• And other activities
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas

14. www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Richard Proud
exactEarth
Leah Syme and Aislinn Sirk,
Research Services, UVic
Mike Shepherd,
CCG MCTS Officer, HAM Radio
Operator and AIS Enthusiasm
Brett Soberg
Owner Eagle Wing Tour
Andrea Nesdoly
MSc Candidate, UVic
Thank you to…
www.waveproject.canormas@uvic.ca @NormaSerraSogas
Visit project website:
www.waveproject.ca
Contact me at:
Norma Serra
normas@uvic.ca