San Francisco Chronicle: Ships Are Killing Whales off the California Coast. Here's What Experts Say Will Save Them.
- Species conservation
- Pathology
Ships are killing whales off the California coast. Here's what experts say will save them
Published in the San Francisco Chronicle: March 12, 2022
The towering container ships and oil tankers that sail in and out of San Francisco Bay have a little-known dark side: They are a leading cause of death for whales that migrate along the coast between Mexico or Central America and Alaska.
But there’s a way to reduce the number of whales that often wash up, bloated and mangled, on Bay Area beaches this time of year, experts say. A new report recommends slowing the speed of ships on a large stretch of the coast, from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Arena in Mendocino County. The idea is to give whales a chance to escape mortal injury.
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2024\/cropped-images\/hms-rs10-release-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-0-966-755-1712699238.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal RS10 is released and heads toward the water","title":"Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kaua\u02bbi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-back-home-on-kauai-after-receiving-life-saving-care-for-ingested-fishing-gear","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-09 02:00:00"}
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear
April 9, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-mom-pup-photo-c-brian-simuro-505-0-3387-2646-1618247266.jpg","alt":"sea otter mother and pup","title":"Top Eco Friendly Mother\u2019s Day Gifts that Give Back","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-mothers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2024-04-08 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Places\/Monterey Bay\/cropped-images\/monterey-bay-shutterstock-14-18-4196-3277-1712079225.jpg","alt":"Monterey Bay rocky coastline with blue skies and clouds","title":"Three Key Members Added to Center's Leadership Team with Backgrounds Far Beyond the Ocean","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/three-key-members-added-to-centers-leadership-team-with-backgrounds-far-beyond-the-ocean","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-02 02:00:00"}
Three Key Members Added to Center's Leadership Team with Backgrounds Far Beyond the Ocean
April 2, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-muir-beach-c-the-marine-mammal-center-66-2-1533-1198-1617991349.jpg","alt":"gray whale in shallow water","title":"LA Times: Starvation Has Decimated Gray Whales - Can the Giants Ever Recover?","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/la-times-starvation-has-decimated-gray-whales-can-the-giants-ever-recover","label":"In the News","date":"2024-03-27 02:00:00"}
LA Times: Starvation Has Decimated Gray Whales - Can the Giants Ever Recover?
March 27, 2024
Read Morepathology
Kathi George
Humpback Whale
Gray Whale
Blue Whale