SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. (AP) — As dawn broke over San Juan Island, scientists released a mile of fiber-optic cable into the Salish Sea, aiming to capture the sounds of endangered orcas. This innovative approach uses the same technology that allows internet data to convert existing underwater cables into a vast listening network. The aim is to understand how these whales react to ship noises, food availability, and other stresses.
The technique, known as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), provides more precise measurements than traditional monitoring methods, allowing researchers to track orca movements and vocalizations continuously.
This research is particularly crucial as the Southern Resident orca population is threatened, primarily due to dwindling salmon stocks, noise pollution, and chemical contamination in their habitat. By utilizing existing web of underwater cables, scientists hope to gather crucial data that could enhance conservation strategies under the looming threat of climate change.
