The Navy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin., the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources and the Florida Dept. of Env'tal Protection are tracking and guarding right whales, an endangered species that researchers say numbers only about 350.
Kurt Fristrud, a Cornell U. biologist and acoustic engineer, "believes that the right whales are trapped by their habits and unable to migrate away from ... shipping lanes." Fristrud: "I think there are hot spots -- little windows where for some reason whales and ships come together. If we can find those points, we can direct ships away and save the whales." The "only known calving grounds" are in shipping lanes off of GA and FL.
Rear Admiral Kevin Delaney, the environmental officer for the South Atlantic fleet, says the Navy is using infrared trackers to spot the whales. Researchers also are able to send instant messages of whale locations to ships so that collisions can be avoided (AP/BOSTON GLOBE online, 1/27).