Each year, dozens of Pacific humpback whales become entangled in fishing lines and traps off the U.S. West Coast.

Many die slowly from exhaustion, drowning, or starvation as they drag heavy gear through the ocean. Others survive but are scarred and weakened for life.

After years of delay — and a federal court order — the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has finally agreed to form a task force to reduce whale entanglements. 

That’s an important first step.

But right now, the agency plans to limit its focus to only one fishery: the sablefish pot fishery. In reality, multiple West Coast trap and pot fisheries contribute to whale entanglements every year. Limiting protections to a single fishery will not solve the problem.

These magnificent animals migrate thousands of miles from their breeding grounds to feed in the Pacific each year. They deserve safe waters — free from deadly vertical lines and traps that threaten their survival.

We call on the National Marine Fisheries Service to:

• Expand the scope of the new whale-safety task force to include all pot and trap fisheries off the Pacific Coast, not just sablefish operations.
• Develop regulations that require the use of ropeless or “pop-up” fishing gear wherever feasible to prevent entanglement.
• Meet the federal court’s 13-month deadline for adopting binding rules that protect endangered and threatened humpback whales.
   

This isn’t about stopping fishing — it’s about making it safer and more sustainable. Proven technologies already exist to prevent whales from getting caught in fishing lines while allowing fishermen to keep working.

Every year we wait, more whales die unnecessarily. Let’s make sure the government follows through on its promise to protect them.

Sign now to demand stronger protections for Pacific humpback whales — before it’s too late.