A baby humpback whale plays as it swims near the surface in the Pacific Ocean.
getty
Drones are helping U.S. scientists drop suction cup telemetry devices onto marine mammals to enhance rescue operations and research.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists in its fisheries unit are using temporary telemetry trackers to safely dropped through the air onto the backs of whales.
A drone carrying a suction cup to tag a humpback whale.
NOAA/Ed Lyman
Whales can pose challenges due to their size as well as difficulties trying to perform captures and releases.
“It’s not possible to tag every whale, and telemetry devices aren’t permanent. But the data we gather from even one animal helps us better understand and conserve whale populations,” according to a NOAA program description. “We attach electronic tags to individual whales to safely and remotely collect powerful data. Marine animal telemetry allows us to monitor the movement and behavior of a tagged whale over a period of time. It also gives us information on how whales use their ocean habitats.”
High-Tech Whale Tags
NOAA scientists use drones to drop the suction tags near a whale’s dorsal fin while the whale is swimming. When the tags are attached with suction cups, the whales continue their natural behavior without disturbance, NOAA says.
Suction cup tags used to study Rice’s whales.
NOAA Fisheries/Meaghan Emory
The suction cup tags—as large as a cellphone or small textbook—are temporary and provide information about whale behaviors and movements. Tags later detach for recovery.
“Many tags stay on the whale for a few hours or days, though others can last for months to even a year or more. Current battery technology and tag designs prevent us from tracking whales for longer periods,” NOAA says.
The tags contain sensors to record and store information, such as whale diving activities, GPS locations and swimming speeds. Other data that can be obtained—water temperatures and salinity. Tags can even record audio and video.
Screenshots from a NOAA video showing a drone dropping a tracking tag on a whale.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
“Tags collect data that shed light on the lives of whales and the conditions within their ocean world. These devices can help reveal the length and depth of their dives and how they are feeding,” NOAA notes. “We can learn about their migratory patterns, habitat use, short-term survival, and environmental conditions. With extra sensors attached to tags, we can even see what they see, and listen to the sounds they make and hear.”
Whales Facing Extinction
The types of whales that have been tagged using drones are the endangered North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales and Rice’s whales.
Endangered status of North Atlantic right whales.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
Threats to whales primarily consist of getting tangled in fishing gear, hit by vessels, oil spills, ocean debris, aquaculture, ocean noise and habitat degradation.
Chart showing 170 North Atlantic whales have died in an “unusual mortality event” from 2017 to Feb. 12, 2026.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
Emergency responders can be alerted by the tags if whales become entangled so assistance can be provided.
Drone and telemetry technology is helping Rice’s whale which is facing extinction with less than 100 left.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
NOAA Using Telemetry for Other Marine Life
Adult female green turtle in San Diego Bay equipped with a GPS satellite tag.
OAA Fisheries/JA Seminoff
Researchers are also using telemetry to gather data to help other marine creatures such as crabs, fish, dolphins, seals, sharks, sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles.
