Save Willy Act: Tell Congress to vote yes to protect Pacific Coast whales >>

Every year, whales traveling through the San Francisco Bay area face serious threats from vessel strikes and increasing maritime traffic. However, changing ocean conditions are shifting whale migration patterns make it harder to predict whale presence. Without better monitoring and maritime communication, large whales remain at risk.

To address these issues, Congressman Liccardo (D-CA) introduced the Save Willy Act (H.R. 8450), a bill designed to reduce the risk of vessel strikes for large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay and strait of the Golden Gate. This bill calls for a pilot program to improve coordination between the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service and the maritime industry by establishing a Cetacean Desk designed to monitor and communicate whale sightings to vessel operators.

Additionally, the bill requires the Coast Guard to evaluate technologies with the purpose of tracking and mariner communication. These efforts will help reduce lethal vessel strikes and improve safety for whales and mariners.

Let your voice be heard—tell Congress to vote yes on the Save Willy Act to increase whale monitoring and advance technological solutions to reduce the risk of vessel strikes in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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{contact_data~salutation} {contact_data~firstName} {contact_data~lastName},

I urge you to support Rep. Liccardo’s Save Willy Act (H.R. 8450) to protect Pacific gray whales and other large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 2025, NOAA reported that with approximately 13,000 individuals left, the Pacific gray whale is at its lowest population number reported in nearly 50 years. As ecosystems in Arctic feeding grounds change, migratory routes for large Pacific cetaceans shift as a result. This warrants increasing monitoring and harnessing technological solutions to work alongside clear communication with mariners to decrease the risk of vessel strikes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Action must be taken to reduce threats to these whales and other large cetaceans before further population decline.

The Save Willy Act would improve monitoring of large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay and strait of the Golden Gate and collaboration between the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service and the maritime industry. The bill also establishes a Cetacean Desk to provide real-time communication of whale sights to vessel operators to reduce the risk of vessel strikes. Additionally, the Coast Guard would be required to evaluate technological tools to improve whale tracking and alerts to mariners. This program would make waterways safer for whales and mariners.

Vote YES on the Save Willy Act to protect vulnerable whale populations while ensuring safer waterways.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
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