Onshore seismometers detect fin whale songs, unlocking new opportunities for coastal cetacean monitoring and public engagement

Fin whales, the second-largest animals on Earth, produce some of the most intense vocalizations in the animal kingdom. Monitoring these sounds using ocean-based hydrophones is crucial for studying their distribution and social behaviour, although obtaining real-time data remains challenging. In this study, we explore whether vocalizing near-coastal fin whales can be detected and located widely using onshore seismometers. By analysing publicly available data from existing seismic stations, we show that fin whale songs can be detected with onshore seismometers up to 5.5 km inland across various marine environments worldwide. Through the analysis of seismic wave properties, individual whales can be located and tracked.

Additionally, we demonstrate that citizen science seismometers, like the affordable and widely used ‘Raspberry Shake’ devices, can reliably detect fin whale songs. These instruments, often placed in coastal areas, offer a cost-effective and accessible approach to monitoring coastal fin whale activity in real-time. The discovery that human habitats are ensonified by fin whale song presents an opportunity to increase public engagement with marine life and opens new possibilities for global monitoring. Given that fin whales are threatened by noise pollution, shipping collisions, and entanglement in fishing gear, the use of terrestrial seismometers could help improve early warning systems and enhance datasets on near-coastal whale vocalizations. This study highlights the significant, untapped potential of seismic data for monitoring near-coastal fin whales on a global scale.