We work hard to provide our participants and the public with the necessary information to stay informed about sustainable shipping practices along the West Coast.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Resources
Media
2022 Season Brochure summarizes the 2022 vessel speed reduction season results​
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Brand Ambassador Brochure summarizes the Brand Ambassador program
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Social Shareables graphics and captions that can be downloaded and shared on social media
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Videos videos and webinars about the program
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Press recent articles and press releases
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2022 Season Press Report summarizes 2022 press coverage about the program
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Community Support page includes additional templates, links, and ways to get involved
Scientific Research
Ship strikes are one of the primary threats to large whales along the U.S. west coast and around the world.​
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Reducing large vessel speeds reduces underwater noise.
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Regulatory changes have been proven to have a significant impact on vessel behavior.
Tools
NOAA Voluntary VSR Advisory The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with support from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually issues voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) requests that go into effect May 1 to December 15 off San Francisco, Monterey, and Southern California.
Whale Safe website hosted by the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory shows vessel transit and whale data in the Southern California Bight Region
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SmartWay a Blue Whales Blue Skies Partner, is an Environmental Protection Agency program to help cargo owners improve their supply chains
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Pacific Maritime Management Services tracks and manages vessel transits to optimize port/vessel operations, enhance maritime safety and reduce environmental impacts
Other VSR Programs and Legislation
AB 953 would build on the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program by tasking the Ocean Protection Council to create a statewide voluntary vessel speed reduction and sustainable shipping program for the entire California coast
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey