UCSB creating technology to make ocean safer for whales, cargo ships

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The largest animals on Earth live off California's shores.

The blue whale, grey and humpback whale all migrate through California's waters.

The blue whale is by far the biggest - growing upwards of 100 feet long.

However, also cutting through California's waters are mega ships. Giant cruise liners and cargo ships sail the ocean where, oftentimes, they collide with blue whales as they swim up to the surface to breathe.

A collision between the two can be deadly. And it's usually the whale who loses its life.

According to researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, about 80 known whales have died annually due to collisions with ships. Now they're working to solve that problem.

UCSB researchers are developing a technology called Whale Safe that uses microphones at the bottom of the ocean and computers on land to track whales in the area.

The technology then sends a signal to nearby ships warning them to steer clear of the area.

They say the goal is to reduce and even prevent deadly whale accidents.