System uses sound to find whales, avoid ship strikes

By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer, General Science / Biology

The tale of a right whale is all that is visible as the animal dives in Cape Cod Bay near Provincetown, Mass., Thursday afternoon, April 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

(AP) -- A spotter bangs three times on the boat's cabin roof, signaling the captain to cut the throttle - now. In the foggy gray of Cape Cod Bay, the reason for the abrupt stop soon becomes apparent: The research vessel is surrounded by rare North Atlantic right whales, their glossy black heads bobbing just above the surface as they feed on plankton slicks.

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