Presentation given to the whale-watching companies and project stakeholders in the Strait of Gibraltar

1. WAVE
Photo © TRI
1 2
Meeting hosted by
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation
Alessia Scuderi1,2, Javier García Sanabria1 and RosalineCanessa3
Supported by
and
3

2. Outline
• Areas of study
• Problematics
• AIS – Automatic Identification
System
• Aims and
methodologies
• Possible outcomes
• SWOT analysis -‐Strengths,
Weakness, Opportunities and
Threats
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐
Photo © Turmares

4. Multi-‐boundariesmarine
spaces characterised by
narrow passages
intense anthropogenic
activities
host cetacean populations
Whale Watching (WW)
activities
Study areas
Salish Sea Strait of Gibraltar
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

5. Lack of understanding
• of WW activities
• and of the distribution of cetaceans
Problems with:
• Compliance with regulations
• Management of the WW
fleets
• Lack of knowledge for
conservation and
management policies
All WW vessels of the Strait of Gibraltar carry AIS, it is mandatory
MMIRC has collected cetaceans data using Dolphin Adventure as
plaOorm
Problematics
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

6. • AIS (Automatic Identification System): is an automated, autonomous
tracking system which is used in the maritime world for the exchange of
navigational information between AIS-‐equippedterminals. AIS was
originally developed by IMO (International Maritime Organization) as a
standard to avoid vessel collisions and assist port authorities in
controlling maritime traffic with more efficiency.
• AIS Transponders (class A or B): determines its own position, speed
and course using a build in GPS receiver. This information along with
other static information provided by the vessel’s crew/owner, are
automatically broadcasted at a regular intervals via a VHF transmitter.
Transponders are able to transmit and receive AIS data.
AIS -‐AutomaticIdentificationSystem
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

7. AIS -‐AutomaticIdentificationSystem
Modified by: hFps://www.maritec.co.za
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

8. 1. To analyse and compare the
performance of AIS transceivers
on WW vessels of both areas of
study
• Interviews WW workers
(their needs, feedbacks on the operability and
usefulness of AIS)
AIMS Methodologies
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

9. 2. To identify areas consistently utilized by WW vessels
(maps of WW activities seasonally)
3.To assess if WW vessels can be used as a proxy for marine
mammal distribution
(comparing sighting data with vessel tracks)
• Analysing AIS tracks (to identify WW vessel patterns)
ghiri_2000_021
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AIMS Methodologies
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

10. Possible outcomes:
1. Improve the use of AIS
as a tool for a better
management of the WW
fleet
2. Identify important areas
for WW activities
3. Assess the reliability of
utilizing AIS data as a pr
oxy for m ar ine
mammals
4. Contribute towards
better conservation and
management policies
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

11. SWOT analysis
(Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats)
It is a framework for identifying and analysing the internal (Strengths and
Weakness) and external (Opportunities and Threats) factors that can have
an impact on the viability of the project
Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

12. SWOT analysis
Project’s AIMS:
To analyse and
compare the
performance of AIS
transceivers on
WW vessels of
both areas of study
To identify areas
consistently
utilized by WW
To assess if WW
vessels can be used
as a proxy for
marine mammal
distribution
Photo © TRI Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐

13. External factors that
could jeopardize the
project's success
Photo © TRI Whale watching AIS Vessel movement Evaluation -‐
External factors that the
entity can capitalize on
or use to its advantage
Internal attributes and
resources that work
against a successful
outcome
Internal attributes and
resources that support a
successful outcome
SWOT analysis
Project’s AIMS:
To analyse and
compare the
performance of AIS
transceivers on
WW vessels of
both areas of study
To identify areas
consistently
utilized by WW
To assess if WW
vessels can be used
as a proxy for
marine mammal
distribution

14. THANKS TO
• ACCOBAMS -‐Agreement on the Conservation of Cetacean of the Black Sea,
Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Areas
• Department the Environment, Heritage and Climate Change,
Government of Gibraltar
• Director of the Strait Natural Park
• Dolphin Adventure
• IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force
• Junta de Andalucía
• MMIRC -‐Marine Mammal Information, Research & Conservation
• TURMARES Tarifa
• University of Gibraltar

15. Thank you for your attention and
collaboration !
alessia.scuderi1@gmail.com
Photo © Tethys Research Institute -‐TRI