NISHAN PRABODHANA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM PHOTO

The National Marine Electronics Association has joined the Whale and Vessel Safety Task Force, whose mission is to “identify, develop, and implement technology and monitoring tools in the marine industry and boating community with the goal of mitigating the risk of vessel strikes to all marine mammals, with special attention to North Atlantic right whales.”

NMEA authors and holds data interface standards in the electronics industry, and its expertise in data streams could play a key role in integrating electronics with detection information associated with right whales and other protected species.

“Having the National Marine Electronics Association join the Whale and Vessel Safety Task Force is a key development,” WAVS chair John DePersenaire said in a statement. “Their involvement not only brings unparalleled technical knowledge, but also aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate and leverage technology for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales.”

NMEA said its three interface standards — NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000 and OneNet — are integral to creating a standardized data framework for marine electronics. As a member of WAVS, NMEA will contribute to the development, evaluation and implementation of solutions that use the standards to reduce the risk of vessel strikes.

“Collaboration is key to addressing the complex challenges faced by North Atlantic right whales,” NMEA president and executive director Mark Reedenauer said. “We are excited to bring NMEA member experts and resources to the table and work alongside WAVS and other industry partners to find innovative solutions that will contribute to the conservation of these majestic marine creatures. We invite interested NMEA members to come forward to get involved on this initiative.”