Govind Tekale
Two prominent environmental organizations have launched legal action against federal agencies for failing to protect whales from deadly ship collisions along California’s coast. The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth filed a notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast Guard, citing ongoing whale deaths in shipping lanes.
At least eight gray whales have been killed by probable ship strikes in the San Francisco Bay Area so far in 2025, highlighting what environmental advocates call a crisis requiring immediate action.
“It’s been a terrible year for whales off the West Coast, and we can’t afford to let federal officials waste any more time delaying action on ship strikes,” said David Derrick, staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “A decent plan for routing and slowing ships down is long overdue.”
The lawsuit centers on designated shipping lanes that direct maritime traffic through areas where whales frequently gather, including the Santa Barbara Channel and the northern approach to San Francisco Bay. These routes create dangerous conditions for gray, blue, fin and humpback whales.
Scientists estimate the actual number of whale deaths from ship strikes could be much higher than reported figures. Most struck whales sink rather than wash ashore, making accurate counts difficult. One study suggests approximately 80 whales are killed annually by vessel strikes off the West Coast.
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This legal action follows a December 2022 court victory for the same environmental groups. In that case, a federal judge ruled against the agencies, rejecting a 2017 biological opinion that claimed shipping lane designations would cause no harm to protected marine species.
The court found the government’s conclusion “defies logic” given the documented whale deaths in these shipping corridors. Despite this ruling, neither agency has completed a new biological assessment or implemented proven protective measures in the years since.
“This is not the first time we have gone toe-to-toe with the federal government for failing to assess the grave risks that shipping poses for marine life,” said Hallie Templeton, legal director for Friends of the Earth. “Now, even with a federal court opinion on our side, agencies have not changed their tune.”
Maritime experts suggest several potential solutions to reduce whale deaths, including mandatory vessel speed restrictions during peak whale seasons, expanded speed reduction zones, and dynamic management areas that use real-time monitoring to alert ships when whales are detected nearby.
The Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to evaluate how their actions might affect protected species. The environmental groups argue that by continuing to issue shipping traffic guidance without a valid biological opinion, the Coast Guard is violating this legal obligation.
The notice initiates a legal process that typically gives federal agencies time to address alleged violations before a formal lawsuit is filed.
