05/14/2026
This April, California extended its vessel speed reduction program along the entire coast, a milestone for a program that began over a decade ago in Santa Barbara. 🎉
Ships pose a huge threat to whales and marine mammals from direct strikes, noise pollution, and chemical pollutants. 🚢 The vessel speed reduction program slows down shipping traffic enough to drop the risk of fatal ship strikes significantly and reduce underwater noise up to 40%.
However, the expanded program does not go far enough: a longer season and wider zones would greatly reduce shipping impacts to endangered whale populations, sea otters, and other marine mammals. 🐋🦦
Read more about the program and how to improve it on our blog: https://cacoastkeeper.org/californias-vessel-speed-reduction-program-just-expanded-but-not-far-enough/