Whale Alert App Launches in Europe for Boaters
First launched in North America in 2012, the Whale Alert app is now available to recreational and commercial mariners in European waters, thanks to a recent expansion supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), app developer Conserve.IO, and innovation partner Greenov.
The app allows users to report and receive alerts about whale sightings in real time, with the goal of helping vessels avoid accidental strikes with whales—an issue scientists and conservation groups say is far more common than reported. According to IFAW, for every confirmed whale-ship collision, as many as 20 more incidents may go undetected or unreported.
With more than 2 million vessels navigating Europe’s seas annually, many of which overlap with whale migration routes, the expansion of Whale Alert is aimed at providing boaters with a proactive tool to help reduce harm to marine mammals.
How the App Works
Available for free on the App Store and Google Play, Whale Alert uses smartphone GPS technology to notify users when they enter areas where whales have recently been sighted or where marine mammal protection measures are in place. Mariners can adjust their speed, course, or awareness level accordingly.
The newest version of the app (v4.0) includes:
- Collision-risk indicators tailored to vessel size, speed, and location
- Built-in European marine protection zones and conservation guidance
- The ability to submit whale sightings
- A “trusted observer” status for users who provide repeated verified reports
For sailors in high-traffic areas or those cruising known whale habitats—whether in the Mediterranean, North Sea, or the Bay of Biscay—the app offers another layer of environmental awareness that can be used alongside navigation tools.
“Human activity continues to threaten whale populations around the world,” said Aurore Morin, senior campaigner for IFAW, in a public statement. “By making this data available to all mariners, Whale Alert empowers sailors to avoid tragic interactions with marine mammals—before it’s too late.”More information and downloads can be found at whalealert.org.
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