The majestic Southern Resident orcas and other endangered whale species are facing an urgent crisis in U.S. coastal waters—noise, overcrowding, and physical disturbances from boats and whale‑watching tours are threatening their survival.

Canada just introduced strengthened protections in its Pacific waters—like new speed‑restrictions, mandatory distance zones up to 400 m (with plans for 1,000 m), and limits on whale‑watching operations—all to help greener, quieter oceans for whales to feed, communicate, and raise their young. 

It’s time the U.S. matches and exceeds that commitment.

We demand that U.S. federal and coastal state governments:

• Establish speed‑restriction zones in critical whale habitats—especially areas of high whale‑watching activity—to reduce underwater noise and wake damage.
• Mandate a minimum 1,000‑metre vessel‑approach distance from endangered whales, with full year-round enforcement and meaningful penalties for violations.
• Limit commercial whale‑watching tours targeting endangered populations, enforcing voluntary or legally mandated seasonal moratoria where whales are most vulnerable.
• Expand marine protected zones and fishery closures in key foraging areas to ensure whales have uninterrupted access to salmon and other prey.
• Support ongoing research and monitoring, and equip vessels with acoustic‑quieting technology and pollutant‑tracking tools to detect threats early.

These steps aren’t radical—they mirror measures already in place in Canada, where speed zones, exclusion areas off Pender and Saturna Islands, and whale‑watching restrictions aim to safeguard Southern Resident orcas. 

Will you stand with us to protect our whales? Sign today.

(Photo credit: John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research)