With ferry traffic expected to increase 30% to all-time highs by 2040 per WSF Assistant Secretary Amy Scarton in an interview with The Urbanist dated January 22, 2019, our Southern Resident Killer Whales (Southern Residents) are about to face environmental degradation and danger at a level not in line with the care and attention this vulnerable species requires. With investment in our ports and ferries geared towards maximizing the potential benefits of growth, it is imperative the preservation and protection of our Southern Residents remain a top priority for our ferry and port systems. 

As the Washington State Ferries 2040 Long Range Plan states that the fleet will comply with Governor Jay Inslee's Executive Order 18-02, Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force;

And as Governor Jay Inslee's Executive Order 18-02 recognizes that it is imperative Washington State coordinate with its northern neighbors in Canada to ensure the most effective implementation of any whale-preserving efforts;

And as Executive Order 18-02 calls for the Washington State Ferries fleet to minimize noise impact on Southern Residents, and so would encourage the minimization of physical impact;

And as the Canadian research team Ocean Wise has developed a real-time data network of whale sightings and corresponding real-time alert app, WhaleReport Alert System (WRAS) and WhaleReport app respectively, that maximize the detection and protection of whales in order to minimize ship strike by alerting ferries, ports, and professional mariners of whales in their vicinity for the purpose of avoidance; 

And as Ocean Wise has invited Washington State ports, ferries, and professional mariners to join the multitude of Canadian organizations and groups both acting on- and contributing to- the real-time data of whale sightings;

And as the adoption and integration with WRAS would be most efficient for Washington State, strengthen the depth and breadth of the WRAS data collection and response, and maximize the WSF fleet's compliance with Executive Order 18-02;

Washington State voters and residents are asking our local ports, ferries, and professional mariners to adopt and integrate with WRAS, via established systems and processes and during the current phase of expansion and development, to ensure the responsible management of growth minimizes the cost to our ocean neighbors.