The results of the 2022 Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program (BWBS) were compiled and announced earlier this year. Twenty-three global shipping lines voluntarily reduced their vessels’ speeds for more than 265,000 nautical miles while transiting along the California coast during peak whale migration, between May 1 - December 15. These reduced speeds are estimated to have lowered the risk of fatal whale strikes by participating vessels by 44%, reduced over 32,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses and 921 tons of smog-forming NOx, and decreased underwater noise by an average of 4.6 decibels per transit.
The 2023 BWBS program is in effect May 1 - December 15 and includes an expanded VSR zone area in the Monterey Bay region. As of July 2023, 29 global shipping lines have enrolled in the 2023 season, a 26% increase over the previous season.
For more information, visit https://www.bluewhalesblueskies.org.