Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

This project examines the application of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in cetacean research, with a focus on ethical methodology, regulatory frameworks, and the behavioral data that aerial observation makes possible. Conducted across four sites in Baja California Sur, Mexico during spring of 2026, drone surveys documented three cetacean species: common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in La Paz Bay, gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Magdalena Bay and Laguna Ojo de Liebre, and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Todos Santos. Flight telemetry data were converted into georeferenced flight path layers using ArcGIS Pro, with behavioral observation points added manually at locations of notable activity, creating a replicable workflow for spatial documentation of aerial cetacean surveys. Expert interviews with researchers and practitioners from NOAA, Ocean Alliance, Coastal Dolphins of Latin America, and the wildlife cinematography field contributed to a broader examination of low-impact survey design, permit requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, and emerging applications of drone technology in cetacean conservation. Project deliverables include a short film and a two-part ArcGIS StoryMap; one webpage is designed as a public-facing visual guide, and one as a scientific resource hub containing full methodology documentation, telemetry data, observational notes, innovations and future applications. This work contributes to ongoing efforts to standardize ethical drone survey practices and demonstrates the value of aerial observation as a tool for understanding cetacean behavior, body condition, and population health in the context of accelerating climate change and coastal urbanization.

See the media created for this project here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2cca2ee89e3044cda23f518f17b2cd2f