Monitoring Marine Mammals at the East Hampton Town Marine Museum

The East Hampton Historical Society’s Director of Education, Stacy Myers, is leading an innovative program at the East Hampton Town Marine Museum to educate our community about marine mammals in the mid-Atlantic. One of the whale species we focus on at the Marine Museum is the North Atlantic Right Whale. It is critically endangered, facing severe threats from human activity, especially vessel strikes.
 
In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) MotionInfo developed StationKeeper, an innovative AIS (automated identification system) that uses coastal tracking technology to monitor vessel movements and communicate real-time information. This proactive approach not only enhances maritime safety but also plays a crucial role in protecting these magnificent marine mammals from further harm.
 
During classes and tours of the Marine Museum, Stacy shares photographs and data obtained from NOAA, MotionInfo, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, local monitoring agencies, and Whale Alert, a citizen science mobile app where whale sightings are used to help prevent vessel strikes. Launched in 2012, Whale Alert uses whale presence data including verified sightings, acoustic detections from buoys and gliders, and aerial surveys to display a user-friendly map based on nautical charts from country-specific government agencies. 
 
The Historical Society along with the Town of East Hampton are honored to be part of the StationKeeper program and we are so grateful for the educational and technical support from our partners! If you would like to schedule a tour to learn more about how you can help protect whales, please email Stacy.