PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Cutting-edge technology designed to protect critically endangered whales has been activated at a decommissioned South Jersey lighthouse.
The historic Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, the tallest in New Jersey at 171 feet, was officially decommissioned in 1933. It’s now back to guiding vessels, not away from rocks, but away from North Atlantic Right Whales.
VHF radio signals from the lighthouse’s lantern room alert mariners if they are moving too fast while entering the whales’ migratory path. Ships must slow to 10 knots.
Portia Calouro with MotionInfo, which operates its StationKeeper units at 50 locations from Florida to Maine, said many of the systems are installed in lighthouses.
“Ships 65 feet and above are required by law to slow down when they’re within a seasonal management area,” Calouro said. “The lighthouses were built close to the shore with the right height. They’re perfect.”
Only about 370 North Atlantic Right Whales remain, including just 70 reproductive females.