Greece implements advanced technology to monitor whale safety in Kythira.

The Greek government has partnered with two NGOs, The Green Tank and OceanCare, to implement the “SAvE Whales” detection and alert system in the Strait of Kythira. This system, developed by Dr. Emmanuel Skarsoulis from FORTH, aims to protect endangered sperm whales from collisions with ships in areas where re-routing vessel traffic is not feasible. The hydrophone array, consisting of three solar-powered buoys equipped with hydrophones, can detect and locate sperm whales by their echolocation clicks, alerting nearby ships to reduce the risk of collisions.

Ioli Christopoulou, Co-founder and Policy Director of The Green Tank, hailed the agreement as a significant step towards protecting sperm whales and biodiversity in Greece. Ship strikes are a major threat to sperm whales in the Mediterranean, with the Hellenic Trench being a high-risk area due to its rich marine life that attracts sperm whale mothers with calves. The “SAvE Whales” technology has already been tested off Crete and has shown promising results in locating sperm whales accurately.

The collaboration between the Greek government and NGOs aims to expand the use of the “SAvE Whales” system in the Strait of Kythira, potentially making it an official tool for mariners to mitigate risks and receive warnings. With ship strikes causing more than half of sperm whale deaths in the Mediterranean, the implementation of this technology could play a crucial role in safeguarding the endangered species and preserving marine biodiversity in the region.

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