The planet is pretty well wired to warn us of earthquakes these days. Microphones on the ocean floor are among the many devices that can detect the rumblings of the Earth, long before people become aware of them.
Microphones do have multiple uses, though, and at least some seismologists advocate using them to listen to sea creatures. Include Dr. William Wilcock at the University of Washington in that group.
He shares his thoughts on "Whale Seismology" in an online lecture hosted by Southwestern Oregon Community College (Tuesday January 26th, 7 PM). We get a crash course in the principles of whale seismology.