Most winter days off Georgia's coast, scientists criss-cross the waves looking for North Atlantic right whales, crucial due to their dwindling population.
Passive acoustic detection means super-sensitive microphones floating around underwater, listening for whale sounds. This technology is critical, especially in the challenging southeastern calving grounds.
Catherine Edwards emphasized the impact of environmental conditions, stating, 'Unfortunately, the weather in December, January, February, doesn't always let flights happen,' highlighting the limitations of aerial surveys.
The 19th century whaling industry prized them as the 'right whale to hunt,' which led to a dramatic decline, with only about 370 remaining today.
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