John,

Ship strikes are a leading cause of death and injuries for whales migrating along the West Coast. The only oceangoing entities that rival them in size, commercial ships can kill these majestic animals in an instant as they hurtle through whale habitat.

Take action to protect humpback, fin, blue and gray whales from fatal collisions.

Right now the Coast Guard is setting routes for ships to West Coast ports. To reduce ship strikes with whales, proposed routes go south of the Channel Islands and outside much of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. 

The Coast Guard must go further by establishing shipping routes that avoid biologically important areas for whales. It also must consider measures to minimize impacts in critical habitat for whales and all national marine sanctuaries, including slowing vessels to 10 knots when and where whales are likely present.

Studies show that slowing down ships can dramatically reduce fatal whale collisions and rerouting them can reduce harmful noise. 

Safe waters are needed now. Recently Fran, a well-known and beloved humpback, washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay Area with injuries from a ship strike. 

Tell the Coast Guard to do more to fight the deadly impacts of shipping traffic on whales.