Center For Biological Diversity: Speak Up for Whale-Safe Ship Speeds

Whales are dying at alarming rates along the West Coast. Dozens have been found dead off California, Oregon, and Washington in recent weeks, and the count is still rising. According to a new study focusing on the San Francisco Bay, nearly 1 in every 5 gray whales entering the bay dies — and more than 40% of the time, ship strikes are the cause. Limiting vessel speeds in key whale habitat to below 10 knots (roughly 11.5 miles per hour) is a tried-and-true way to reduce tragic whale deaths and injuries, especially for mothers and calves, who are at greater risk from ships because they spend a lot of time near the ocean's surface. Join the call for whale-safe ship speeds: Urge NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard to require vessel speed limits where whales are most likely to be. Act HERE.