Coast Guard would track Bay Area whales in real time

What does this do?

This bill would set up a four-year trial program with a small team, called a Cetacean Desk, inside the existing Coast Guard vessel traffic control center for the San Francisco Bay area. No more than two full-time employees would track large whales, orcas, and sperm whales and share that location information with ship and boat operators in real time. The program could also set local rules on vessel speed and buffer zones, use AI tools to detect whales, and would require the Coast Guard to report to Congress each year on results, including how many whale strikes were prevented.

Who does it affect?

This bill primarily affects commercial shipping companies and vessel operators working in the San Francisco Bay region, along with Coast Guard personnel there. It also involves California state agencies, Tribal governments, ports, universities, and environmental groups, as well as the whale populations that migrate through the area.

Why does it matter?

Without the program, ship and boat operators in the Bay area would have less real-time information about where whales are located, which can lead to vessels striking or disturbing those animals. The program exists because whale strikes are a known risk in this busy shipping corridor.

Where does it stand?