
Teledyne Marine’s Slocum gliders, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with JASCO Applied Sciences’ OceanObserver™ Passive Acoustic Monitoring technology, have been deployed in the Roseway Basin to detect and localize marine mammals in near-real-time, supporting conservation efforts by reducing risks such as vessel strikes and habitat degradation.
The Roseway Basin on the Scotian Shelf, situated off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, serves as a crucial sanctuary for marine mammals. It provides habitat for species such as the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, Fin Whale, and Sei Whale, all of which rely on this area for their survival.
Monitoring their populations is essential to reducing threats like vessel collisions, entanglements in fishing gear, and habitat destruction.
Ensuring effective monitoring of these species supports conservation initiatives and ensures human activity is managed responsibly. Comprehensive behavioral and migratory data are crucial in informing policymakers and guiding conservation efforts.
Beyond species-specific benefits, the Roseway Basin contributes to a broader understanding of marine ecosystem health. This valuable resource can be sustainably used if further investments are made in scientific observation and management. Recently, Teledyne Marine’s Slocum Autonomous Underwater Gliders fitted with JASCO Applied Sciences OceanObserverTM directional Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) technology were used by researches from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC).
With the advancement of technologies such as passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), scientists can identify and track marine mammals in this vulnerable habitat with near-real-time precision. This innovative methodology has enabled researchers to monitor marine mammals effectively, even in acoustically complex enviroments like the Roseway Basin.

Slocum Autonomous Underwater Glider equipped with JASCO’s OceanObserverTM directional Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system.
Identifying, Locating, and Tracking Marine Mammals in Acoustically Complex Surroundings
Tracking and detecting marine mammals in real-time within the Roseway Basin posed significant difficulties. This region presents acoustic complexities, where noise from both natural and human sources can drown out marine mamma calls.
Additionally, variations in underwater sound velocity, influenced by factors like temperature, salinity, and depth, alter sound acoustics. Marine mammals produce intricate, multi-layered vocalizations that require highly sensitive and precise sensors for accurate detection.
The harsh weather conditions, acoustic challenges, and diverse marine life in the Roseway Basin tested the capabilities and resilience of the gliders. Despite these obstacles, near-real-time detection and localization will advance the tracking and conservation of marine mammals in vulnerable places such as the Roseway Basin.
Near-Real-Time Marine Mammal Detection and Localization
To address these challenges, three Teledyne Marine Slocum gliders were deployed in the Roseway Basin—two operated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and one by JASCO Applied Sciences. Each glider was equipped with JASCO’s OceanObserverTM PAM system to provide near-real-time directional detections. The operation began with a four-day controlled trial designed to assess the gliders’ ability to detect and localize marine mammals as part of DRDC’s research.
Following this initial assessment, the gliders embarked on an extended mission to observe and track marine mammals throughout the Basin. This long-term monitoring initiative was conducted under DFO Science’s Whale Acoustic Slocum Program (WASP).
The study revealed that the gliders successfully identified multiple species, including Fin, Sei, Blue, and North Atlantic Right Whales, and transmitted near-real-time data on their locations. OceanObserverTM provided directional detections that enabled precise localization, confirming that acoustic monitoring can be conducted with the Slocum glider in dynamic oceanic conditions.

Heat map and cross fixes showing the real-time estimated position of the sound source. Actual position is indicated by the black circle. *Images for this case study are provided by JASCO, Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, and DFO.
A Scalable, Cost-Effective Solution for Marine Mammal Tracking
The collaboration between Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Defence Research & Development Canada, and JASCO Applied Sciences highlights the role of technological innovation in marine conservation. Enabled by Teledyne Marine’s Slocum glider, this initiative demonstrated a scalable, cost-effective solution for detecting and tracking marine mammals in near-real-time.
This capability is crucial for conservation efforts, allowing proactive measures such as rerouting maritime traffic or restricting fishing activities in protected areas. With this advanced technology, the project establishes a new benchmark for protecting at-risk species and preserving critical marine ecosystems.
Read the full case study on the Teledyne Marine Website >>