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DataHub Whale Watch

How to download and report whale sightings through the DataHub, and view them on your chartplotter or in navigation apps

Matt Crockett avatar
Written by Matt Crockett
Updated today

PredictWind is committed to providing mariners with tools that enhance navigation and safety and to promote responsible ocean stewardship. Our latest DataHub feature, Whale Watch, is a significant step in supporting efforts to protect vulnerable marine species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.

A Right Whale sighting in Aqua Map

What is DataHub Whale Watch?

This innovative addition is a version of Over the Horizon AIS that updates chartplotters / MFDs and Navigation apps (such as Aqua Map, Navionics, and Open CPN) to help you identify and avoid whales to reduce the risk of ship strikes. You can also report whale sightings to contribute to whale conservation efforts. Whale positions are downloaded and displayed as diamond-shaped virtual ATONs (aids to navigation) on your display.

A cluster of Humpback whale sightings in Aqua Map

A Right Whale sighting and a cluster of Humpback whale sightings in OpenCPN

DataHub Whale Watch is powered by Conserve.io's Whale Alert database, which was developed for NOAA and the IFAW, and is the foremost source of position data about North Atlantic Right Whales.

Whether you're sailing along the Northeast Atlantic or traversing other waters worldwide, Whale Watch underscores our shared responsibility to protect marine ecosystems for generations to come.

What is needed to enable Whale Watch

To enable Whale Watch on the DataHub requires the following:

  • A DataHub with Firmware 4.24 or later.

  • A GPS connected to the DataHub via NMEA2000 or built-in GPS in active status.

  • A chartplotter / MFD connected via NMEA2000 or a Navigation app connected to DataHub Wi-Fi, which is configured to receive the N2K feed via NMEA0183.

  • A high-speed Internet connection for the DataHub via Starlink, 4/5G LTE cellular or GO exec. Important note: Whale Watch is not available via the Iridium GO!.

How to enable Whale Watch

To enable Whale Watch on the DataHub:

  1. Connect to DataHub Wi-Fi.

  2. Open a Chrome or Safari browser and type 10.10.10.1 in the URL bar.

  3. Log in with username admin and password admin.

  4. From the left menu, under the Services heading, click Whale Watch.

  5. Tick Enable then click SAVE & APPLY.

    Note: GO exec Unlimited & PredictWind Plan subscribers can also tick the Iridium GO! exec checkbox to enable Whale Watch downloads via the GO exec at the next GPS tracking polling interval.

Whale Watch Settings description

Interval - DataHub Whale Watch download and update period in minutes. Whale sightings reported within the last three days are downloaded.

Range - sets the range in nautical miles around your current GPS position to download whale sightings.

Iridium GO! exec - enables Whale Sighting downloads through the GO exec on the next GPS tracking polling interval.

Whale Sighting Report

To report a whale sighting:

  1. Connect to DataHub Wi-Fi.

  2. Open a Chrome or Safari browser and type 10.10.10.1 in the URL bar.

  3. Log in with username admin and password admin.

  4. From the left menu, under the Services heading, click Whale Watch.

  5. On the top menu, click Sighting.

  6. Complete the form, then click SAVE & APPLY.

Whale Watch Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DataHub Whale Watch receive whale positions from?

DataHub Whale Watch is powered by Conserve.io's Whale Alert database, which was developed for NOAA and the IFAW, and is the foremost source of position data about North Atlantic Right Whales.

How current are the whale positions?

The DataHub downloads and publishes whale sightings up to three days old.

What is the Whale Watch > Report page?

The DataHub Whale Watch > Report top menu page lists all whale sightings currently downloaded and published by the DataHub on the N2K network and broadcast as NMEA0183 data over DataHub Wi-Fi and LAN.

Are Whale Sighting Reports uploaded immediately?

Yes. Whale Sighting reports are saved to the DataHub SD card and uploaded immediately if your DataHub is connected to high-speed internet (ie. Starlink). If the DataHub is offline, the whale report will be uploaded the next time the DataHub connects to high-speed Internet.

Is Whale Watch only for North Atlantic Right Whales?

No, DataHub Whale Watch includes all whale sightings reported worldwide in the Conserve.io database. However, most sightings currently come from the U.S. East and West Coasts and Hawaii. Sightings are based on public reports and NOAA Fisheries' acoustic detection programs, which you can read more about here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/endangered-species-conservation/monitoring-endangered-north-atlantic-right-whales-near-real-time-sound-air-and-sea

I have enabled Whale Watch on my DataHub. Why can't I see any whales on my chartplotter or in my navigation apps?

The DataHub downloads whale sightings within the range set from its GPS position. Check the Whale Watch > Report page to see if the DataHub has downloaded any whale sightings based on your current position and settings.

Try adjusting the range setting for Whale Watch up to ~12000 nautical miles to see almost all whale sightings globally from your location, or zoom in on the map in your navigation app to see whale ATONs.

Does Whale Watch work via the Iridium GO!

No. Unfortunately, as Whale Watch is a version of Over the Horizon AIS it is not supported via the Iridium GO!

How does the What Watch interval relate to the GPS tracking interval?

The Whale Watch interval is independent of the DataHub GPS tracking interval and will update as set through Starlink, 4G/LTE or high-speed Wi-Fi. Through the GO exec, once the Whale Watch interval has been triggered, it polls the next time GPS tracking updates.

Where can I see a demo of Whale Watch on the DataHub?

Luis Soltero, the DataHub Developer, has published this video on YouTube, which demonstrates and explains more about DataHub Whale Watch.

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