A NOAA Fisheries partnership is developing imaging technology for drones that could significantly reduce cost, risk, and disturbance in marine mammal surveys.
Scientists are developing advanced imaging technology that will enable drones to collect information essential for managing Alaska’s depleted northern fur seal population. This innovation will dramatically reduce the expense and risk of monitoring fur seals, and virtually eliminate disturbance to this sensitive population.
“We were lucky to have partners who were experts in unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and imaging technology join us on this project,” says Katie Sweeney. Sweeney is the marine mammal scientist leading the study for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Marine Mammal Laboratory.
The Pribilof Islands in Alaska were once home to about 75 percent of the world’s northern fur seals. Populations have shown a dramatic, unexplained decline in recent decades. In 2016, pup production was the lowest recorded in 100 years.
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Image via NOAA.