Environmental Defense Center Applauds Federal Protections on Whales

Whales are a little safer in the Santa Barbara Channel, thanks to two new federal actions aimed at protecting large mammals from ship strikes and underwater noise.

The Environmental Defense Center, which has been one of the area’s biggest organizations advocating for environmental protections for the last 45 years, commended the two recent actions, which include a suite of marine mammal protections signed into law by President Joe Biden and another change by the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that would reduce the risk of collisions between ships and large whales in the Santa Barbara Channel.

“Whales face many threats due to climate change and the increased industrialization of the ocean,” said Kristen Hislop, Senior Director of the Marine Program at the Environmental Defense Center. “We are beyond thrilled to see the federal government take action that will result in tangible protections for whales.”