Press Release: An Outstanding Designation from UNESCO to Montreal's Whale Seeker

Montreal, Quebec (Canada), February 11, 2025 - Showcasing the strength of Canadian innovation and applied artificial intelligence, Whale Seeker, a Montreal-based company, has been named to the IRCAI–UNESCO Global Top 100 AI List for Cetus, its AI-powered system for monitoring marine mammal populations from space.

This recognition also marks a rare milestone for Whale Seeker. In 2022, the company was included on the same IRCAI–UNESCO list for Möbius, which was ranked among the Top 10 AI solutions globally and also received an “Outstanding” assessment. With Cetus now earning the same top-tier designation, Whale Seeker stands out as one of the few Canadian companies to receive multiple IRCAI–UNESCO top-tier distinctions for two distinct AI systems.

Monitoring marine mammals at sea: a scale challenge.

Cetus combines AI with satellite imagery to detect and classify marine mammals across vast and remote ocean regions, areas that can be difficult or impossible to cover with traditional aircraft or vessel-based surveys. By turning that information into usable insights, Cetus helps governments, NGOs, and maritime operators plan protection measures and make better, evidence-based decisions.

This recognition comes at a pivotal moment as Whale Seeker initiates its Whale Seeker Certified Routes initiative, an effort to design the next generation of marine mammal-safe shipping routes grounded in credible, scalable data. Cetus is expected to play a foundational role in this initiative by analyzing large-scale, satellite-based marine mammal intelligence to help inform future routing, planning, and risk-reduction strategies for global shipping.

Quotes

« Cetus receiving this designation is a meaningful validation of our approach: building ethical, scalable AI that can be used in the real world to better protect marine mammals. Whale Seeker’s repeat inclusion on the IRCAI–UNESCO Global Top 100 AI List underscores not only the growing role of applied, responsible AI in supporting sustainable ocean industries worldwide, but also our position as pioneers in bringing these innovations from concept to real‑world impact. »

Emily Charry Tissier, CEO of Whale Seeker

About Cetus

Cetus is an AI solution developed by Whale Seeker that revolutionizes marine mammal conservation through satellite-based detection technology. By harnessing artificial intelligence and high-resolution satellite imagery, Cetus accurately detects and classifies marine mammals for global monitoring. Working with partners including the International Whaling Commission (IWC), WWF, and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Cetus empowers governments, NGOs, and maritime industries to make informed decisions that support marine mammal protection.

About Whale Seeker

Founded in Montreal, Whale Seeker is a Canadian technology company using ethical artificial intelligence to protect marine mammals. By analyzing aerial and satellite imagery, its AI platforms detect marine mammals at unprecedented speed and scale, enabling better outcomes for conservation, policy, and sustainable ocean activity worldwide.

Whale Seeker collaborates with partners including the International Whaling Commission (IWC), WWF, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and is the world’s first Certified B Corporation using AI in service of wildlife. Its technologies are supported by peer-reviewed research and are increasingly used to inform marine monitoring, risk mitigation, and maritime planning.

About IRCAI and UNESCO

The International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), operating under the auspices of UNESCO, is dedicated to advancing AI research and applications that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through initiatives such as the Global Top 100 AI List, IRCAI promotes ethical, impactful, and scalable AI solutions addressing real-world societal and environmental challenges.

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