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We are excited to share that NOAA Fisheries is announcing a new $500,000 interagency agreement with NASA to support North Atlantic right whale recovery efforts using Inflation Reduction Act funds. Under this new agreement, we will work with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation to identify, advance, and develop new technologies related to satellite tag development and vessel strike risk reduction―one of the primary threats to the survival of North Atlantic right whales.
By developing and advancing technologies for right whale detection, we can improve our understanding of the distribution of right whales, which will enhance our management strategies and expedite our response time when whales are detected.
This new agreement builds on IRA funding the agency has already announced in support of North Atlantic right whale recovery. It’s also a key component in the recently released North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy and it directly supports the Road to Recovery, the agency’s comprehensive plan to recover the species. NOAA Fisheries has worked previously with the NASA Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation to organize a global technology search for innovative solutions to detect on-demand fishing gear and this new effort will further strengthen the agencies’ working relationship.
An upcoming right whale event worth noting is NOAA Fisheries’ right whale vessel strike risk reduction technology workshop set for March 5–7, 2024. Working with mariners, industry, and technology, engineering firms, and partner agencies―including NASA―is essential to ensuring the conservation of right whales in busy waters.
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