Demand the Coast Guard put strong measures in place to protect whales from shipping pollution!

Industrial shipping brings noise and pollution into the Southern Resident Killer whale habitat. These once thriving creatures are now the only endangered species of killer whales in the U.S. – and there are only 74 left!

Five whales have been confirmed killed by ship strikes in the San Francisco Bay Area this year alone. Many more sink to the bottom of the ocean after being struck and are never seen again. These senseless whale deaths will continue if the Coast Guard doesn’t rein in ship traffic

And Indigenous people are harmed too. From the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State to the coastline of California, local people also depend on the ocean waters of the West Coast and its robust marine life to sustain themselves.

If just 1 of every 6 people reading this takes action, we can help protect West Coast ecosystems and the people they support.

Comments

To the U.S. Coast Guard,

I’m writing to ask that the Coast Guard consider the impacts of vessel noise, pollution, and collisions on endangered Southern Resident killer whales, fin whales, blue whales, humpback whales, and other vulnerable marine species as a part of the Port Access Route Study for the Pacific Coast from Washington to California.

West Coast waters are home to many valuable marine species that are under serious threat from shipping traffic—from wastewater and noise pollution to injury and death from ship strikes. The Coast Guard must consider requiring ships to do the following:
-	Moving ships further offshore to work to avoid whale habitat, feeding grounds, and areas of upwelling.
-	Reducing ship speeds to actively reduce noise from ships and help avoid potential contact/striking marine mammals.
-	Implementing real time active management of shipping to reduce the likelihood of impacts on marine mammals.
-   Whale safe app – real time management – get everyone offshore, reduce noise and contact, within the continental shelf – minimize underwater features, whale safe – active management.
-   A comprehensive West Coast Port Access Route Study and any resulting ship routing measures need to take into account local concerns and protect wildlife. It also needs to be adaptable and take into account changing weather, wildlife migration patterns, geopolitical situations, and changing shipping activity. Millions of seabirds, fish, and marine mammals, including endangered whales, will continue to be threatened by shipping up and down the West Coast unless the Coast Guard takes real steps to increase protections for marine life.

I look forward to seeing the Coast Guard act to protect the rich waters of the West Coast by properly regulating shipping industry traffic and pollution.

Sincerely,
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{user_data~City}, {user_data~State} {user_data~Postcode}

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