Protecting Whales Gets Smarter: Ocean Wise Unveils Upgraded Whale Report App

 Send a Sighting. Save a Whale! The Whale Report App Protects Whales from Ship Strikes  

July 7, 2025, VANCOUVER, B.C. — Today, Ocean Wise launched a revitalized Whale Report app, empowering individuals and commercial mariners to work together in real time to protect whales from ship strike and support critical marine conservation. Whale Report is an upgraded and unified version of the widely used WhaleReport app and Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), merging well-loved features with new and improved functionalities. 

Ship strikes are one of the leading human-caused threats to large whales globally. A conservative estimate indicates that 20,000 whales are struck fatally by ships each year. Between 1992 and 2013, shipping traffic increased by 300% – a number that continues to rise. In addition, global shipping routes overlap with 92 per cent of migration routes for blue, fin, humpback and sperm whales, and fewer than 7% of global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have any protections measures in place. 

To date, over 200,000 whale-vessel encounters have been mitigated thanks to sightings reported by individuals through the original WhaleReport app. Now, with Whale Report, both individuals and mariners can experience a more powerful, integrated platform with two key levels of access:  

For Individuals: Report Sightings, Protect Whales  

People in coastal areas can use Whale Report to report sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and sea turtles to the Ocean Wise Sightings Network. These reports contribute to conservation in two vital ways:  

1. Real-Time Alerts to Large Commercial Vessels: Sightings submitted in real time are transmitted to authorized commercial ships, prompting them to slow down or alter course—reducing the risk of striking or disturbing marine life.  

2. Conservation Research: Each sighting is reviewed and added to a research database, helping scientists monitor species occurrence and distribution over time.  

For Authorized Commercial Mariners: Stay Informed, Navigate Responsibly  

Operators of large commercial vessels—such as ferries, tugs, cruise ships, freighters, and government vessels—can apply for access to real-time whale alerts via the Whale Report Alert System. These alerts are informed by a combination of verified user sightings and detections from, WhaleSpotter infrared technology and hydrophone arrays operated by JASCO Applied Sciences and SMRU Consulting. 

Mariners can receive alerts when a detected whale is within 10 nautical miles of their vessel and can customize alert delivery through text, push notification, and/or email. They can also choose to select an additional custom zone of interest from which to receive alerts. An interactive map allows mariners to view whale locations within 3, 12, and 24 hours to help make informed decisions that protect whales.  To gain access, qualified operators must register with a professional email. Access is granted within two business days upon approval.  

New application features for both individuals and mariners include: 

• Sightings and real-time alerts are all in one place. WhaleReport and the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS Pilot) are merged in this one application, with two levels of access. Everyone can report whale sightings, and operators of large commercial vessels can apply to receive real-time alerts.  

• Be aware of local regulations and Interim Orders, including Marine Mammal Regulations and Guidelines and up to date management measures for Southern Resident killer whales, layered onto the interactive map for easy viewing.  

• View recent sightings of whales in your area, or any area where Whale Report is functional. Public users will have a 24-hour delay on sightings. Authorized mariners will have access to real-time sightings within the last three, 12, or 24 hours.   

• View your impact by seeing which of your sightings have generated WRAS alerts.  

Whale Report is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store.  

Quotes: 

“The new and improved Whale Report app brings together insights from community members and professional mariners to create a more powerful, user-friendly tool. With a streamlined interface, interactive sightings map, and a redesigned Whale Report Alert System feature for professional mariners, we hope to empower more people to support whale conservation, help prevent ship strikes and learn more about the incredible whales in our local waters. If you’ll be near the ocean this year, we hope you’ll send a sighting and save a whale!” – Jessica Scott, Senior Manager Whales Initiative, Ocean Wise 

“The B.C. Coast Pilots are pleased to see the launch of the revitalized Whale Report, which has become a critical tool for helping pilots navigate safely while reducing the risk of ship strikes. We value our collaboration with Ocean Wise and are proud to support efforts that enhance both marine safety and whale conservation.”- Captain Ron Carey, Director, BC Coast Pilots Ltd 

Whale Report is made possible through funding and support from the Government of Canada, Quiet Sound, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Victoria Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, DP World and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.  

Ocean Wise thanks its data providers, including: OWSN observers, Southern Gulf Islands Whale Sightings Network, Orca Network via Conserve.io, Acartia Data Cooperative, Beam Reach, JASCO Applied Sciences, SMRU Consulting, and WhaleSpotter.