SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The largest animals on earth live off California’s shores. The blue whale, grey and humpbacked whale all migrate through California’s waters. The blue whale by far the biggest growing upwards to 100 feet longs.

However, also in California’s waters are mega ships. Giant cruise liners and cargo ships. A collision between the two can be deadly. And it’s mostly the whale who loses.

According to researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara, about 80 known whales have died annually due to collisions between ships and whales. Now they’re working to solve that problem.

UCSB researchers are developing a technology, Whale Safe, that uses microphones at the bottom of the ocean and computers on land to track where whales might be. Then sends a signal to those ships with the technology to try to steer clear of the area. The goal, reduce and even prevent deadly accidents.