WhaleSpotter

What WhaleSpotter does

WhaleSpotter provides an AI-powered, expert-verified, long-range thermal imaging system for real-time whale detection, designed to prevent vessel strikes and enable 24/7 marine mammal monitoring in commercial shipping, marine construction, and offshore energy operations. The core product combines Teledyne FLIR thermal cameras with proprietary computer vision and anomaly detection models, layered with a 24/7 global network of protected-species-credentialed marine mammal experts who verify each AI detection before alerts are delivered to vessel bridges and operations centers. The system detects whales up to approximately 4 nautical miles (7 km) away in day or night conditions, achieves 99% detection efficacy with near-zero false alerts, and produces regulatory-ready compliance logs and ESG reporting data; 70+ systems have been deployed globally since 2020, with over 100,000 whales detected in 2025.

The company monetizes through enterprise sales of integrated detection hardware plus recurring subscription services for real-time expert verification, compliance reporting, and ESG data. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise field sales to shipping operators (Matson), offshore energy and construction firms (DEME Group), cruise lines (Ponant), port authorities, and regulators, supplemented by channel partnerships with maritime NGOs (Quiet Sound/Maritime Blue, Ocean Wise), research and government partners (WHOI, Office of Naval Research, DFO Canada, NOAA sanctuaries), and a distributor (Semper Offshore). Headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, the company was spun off from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and is led by CEO Shawn Henry alongside co-founders Dr. Daniel Zitterbart (Chief Scientist) and Dr. Sebastian Richter (CTO).

Name

WhaleSpotter

Legal name

WhaleSpotter

Website

https://whalespotter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WhaleSpotter provides AI-powered, expert-verified thermal imaging systems for real-time long-range whale detection, sold on a subscription basis to shipping operators, offshore energy developers, cruise lines, and regulators to reduce vessel strikes and support marine mammal compliance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Mammal Detection Systems

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)

Keywords

• Marine mammal detection
• Thermal imaging systems
• AI whale detection
• Vessel strike prevention
• Offshore monitoring software

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware and Software Detection System Sales: Sale of integrated WhaleSpotter detection systems including thermal cameras, marine-grade housing, and proprietary software. Systems deployed on vessels, offshore platforms, and coastal installations with 24/7 expert verification service
2. Real-Time Monitoring and Verification Services: Ongoing 24/7 expert-verified alert services, compliance reporting, and ESG data services bundled with system sales

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WhaleSpotter sells an integrated AI-powered, expert-verified thermal imaging detection system that combines Teledyne FLIR cameras, proprietary machine-learning detection models, marine-grade hardware, and 24/7 human expert verification to deliver real-time whale alerts to maritime operators. The system is deployed on commercial vessels, offshore platforms, and coastal installations to reduce ship-whale collisions and support regulatory compliance for marine construction, shipping, cruise, and conservation customers.

Product overview

WhaleSpotter offers a single unified detection platform—the WhaleSpotter Detection System—that combines thermal imaging cameras, AI-powered real-time analysis, expert human verification, and regulatory-compliant reporting. The system is deployed across two primary service contexts: vessels (shipping, cargo carriers, cruise lines) and marine construction (offshore wind, energy, dredging). All deployments use the same core detection technology with industry-specific alert interfaces and compliance reporting features tailored to each operational context.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WhaleSpotter Detection System AI-powered, expert-verified, long-range whale detection system combining thermal cameras, proprietary machine-learning models, marine-grade hardware, and 24/7 expert human verification to deliver real-time alerts to maritime operators, reducing vessel strike risk by over 90 percent. Deployed on vessels, offshore platforms, and coastal installations.
• San Francisco Bay Real-Time Detection Network Shore-based real-time whale detection network deployed in San Francisco Bay that continuously monitors whale presence, publishes verified detection data publicly, and provides automated alerts to maritime operators to prevent vessel strikes on gray whales.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces vessel strike risk by over 90%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Matson, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Matson partnered with WhaleSpotter to deploy AI and thermal imaging systems on commercial vessels to detect whales in real time and reduce the risk of deadly collisions at sea. Matson deployed WhaleSpotter systems across multiple ships in their fleet.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhaleSpotter was spun off from over 10 years of research at WHOI. Co-founders Dr. Dan Zitterbart and Dr. Sebastian Richter developed the technology at WHOI. The efficacy was demonstrated through WHOI research published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Quiet Sound (Maritime Blue)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerQuiet Sound program uses WhaleSpotter thermal imaging cameras for Southern Resident killer whale protection. Program manager Gonzalo Banda-Cruz stated: 'This represents an exciting step forward in our efforts to understand and protect the endangered Southern Resident killer whales.'
• Benioff Ocean Science LaboratorycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWhaleSpotter data is published on the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory's WhaleSafe website for the San Francisco Bay detection network. Collaborative effort for gray whale protection in San Francisco Bay.
• Teledyne FLIR OEMcoreTechnology or IntegrationWhaleSpotter uses Teledyne FLIR OEM thermal cameras for its detection system. High-sensitivity thermal imaging cameras are a core component of the detection hardware.
• DEME GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEME Group, a global offshore energy and marine construction company, partners with WhaleSpotter for marine mammal detection in offshore wind projects and construction operations.
• Ocean WisemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOcean Wise partners with WhaleSpotter for whale detection and conservation programs, supporting biodiversity monitoring and protection initiatives.
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFO partners with WhaleSpotter for marine mammal detection and regulatory compliance support in Canadian waters.
• Office of Naval ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffice of Naval Research supports WhaleSpotter technology development and validation through research funding and collaboration.
• Living Marine ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving Marine Resources collaborates with WhaleSpotter for marine mammal monitoring and protection programs.
• Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNOAA-affiliated sanctuary partners with WhaleSpotter for whale monitoring and conservation in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
• PonantmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPonant cruise line deploys WhaleSpotter technology for whale detection, passenger safety, and environmental stewardship on their expedition vessels.
• Semper OffshoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSemper Offshore distributes and supports WhaleSpotter technology in offshore maritime operations.
• W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndigenous leadership council partners with WhaleSpotter for thermal camera deployment supporting marine mammal protection in Indigenous territories.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• OceanX: Marine science and media organization operating advanced research vessels and remote sensing for ocean exploration and marine life. Tangentially comparable in collecting high-quality marine imagery and deploying it for science and conservation storytelling; not a commercial competitor but participates in the same ecosystem.
• Teledyne FLIR: WhaleSpotter's camera OEM supplier and a broad provider of thermal-imaging modules used in maritime, defense, and industrial applications. Comparable as the underlying imaging technology platform WhaleSpotter is built on and a potential upstream/downstream relationship; not a competing end-product in whale detection.
• Brunel International / RPS Group (offshore environmental services): Provides marine environmental consultancy, protected-species observer (PSO) services, and regulatory compliance support for offshore energy and shipping operators. Comparable as a competing way for offshore-wind and marine-construction customers to satisfy whale-monitoring requirements, primarily through human PSOs rather than AI/sensor systems.

Direct peers

• JASCO Applied Sciences: Provides passive acoustic monitoring and marine mammal mitigation services for offshore energy, shipping, and government clients. Direct competitor to WhaleSpotter in supplying continuous detection/mitigation data (and PSO support) required for regulatory compliance in maritime construction zones.
• Chelonia (C-POD): Manufacturer of C-POD passive acoustic monitoring systems for cetacean detection, widely used by offshore wind developers and marine construction firms for mitigation compliance. Comparable buyer and use case to WhaleSpotter but uses acoustic rather than thermal-imaging modality.

Broad incumbents

• Furuno: Long-standing manufacturer of marine electronics (radar, sonar, navigation) widely used on commercial fishing and shipping vessels. Comparable as a marine-electronics incumbent that could expand into marine mammal awareness for IMO compliance with vessel-strike rules, but currently focused on navigation rather than whale detection.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Established supplier of marine navigation, automation, and sonar systems for commercial shipping, with growing activity in marine mammal monitoring and IMO-aligned solutions. Comparable as a broader marine instrumentation incumbent serving the same shipping and offshore customers, though not specializing in whale-detection thermal-AI.

Emerging players

• Wildlife Computers: Specializes in biologging tags and sensors deployed on marine mammals for research and conservation. Comparable in marine mammal data capture and downstream research customers (NGOs, NOAA), but addresses the detection problem from the animal side rather than the vessel/coast side.
• Saildrone: Builds uncrewed surface vehicles collecting ocean data, including marine mammal observations, for science and government customers. Comparable in maritime AI sensing and regulatory/monitoring missions, but addresses whale detection via platform-based data collection rather than fixed/vessel-mounted thermal cameras.
• Ocean Alliance (SnotBot): Marine conservation organization that pioneered using UAVs ('SnotBot') to collect biological samples from whales, advancing drone-based marine mammal research. Comparable in deploying AI/remote-sensing workflows for whale monitoring and conservation, with overlapping NGO and research customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCj8zMVAnbRvBZjnBbFzKh0A
• Facebookfacebook.com/whalespotterglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whalespotter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WhaleSpotter