U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound introduced a cetacean desk pilot program during a ceremony at Sector Puget Sound. The goal of the four-year pilot program, which is hosted in the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), is to to safeguard endangered whales and mitigate adverse impacts of maritime vessel traffic on endangered and threatened large cetaceans (whales) in the Salish Sea.
In particular, the pilot program will receive reports of whale sightings from mariners in the vessel traffic system managed by the VTS and provide near real-time data about the location of whales to these mariners through the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS). In providing situational awareness, the program aims to reduce instances of ship strikes and whale disturbances in the Puget Sound region. It also aligns operations with the Canadian Coast Guard Marine Mammal Desk, providing a consistent whale reporting and notification regime for operators of large ships throughout the Salish Sea.
Sector Puget Sound is honored to be able to host this pilot program. We look forward to continuing our close relationship with our federal, tribal, international, and state partner agencies and working with local non-government organizations, as we provide enhanced situational awareness on cetacean location to VTS users.
..said Coast Guard Capt. Mark McDonnell, captain of the port for Puget Sound.
The new cetacean desk aligns with our regional goals to help endangered whales and ships share the waters of the Salish Sea. When mariners call in a sighting to the VTS, that sighting will be used to help other mariners make safer choices. Quiet Sound members from the federal, tribal, state, port, maritime and conservation sectors are excited to support and help grow this pilot program.
..said Rachel Aronson, the Quiet Sound program director at Washington Maritime Blue.
The U.S. Coast Guard is stepping up for mariners, whales, and other wildlife in Puget Sound, coordinating and efficiently sharing valuable insight.
..said Grace Ferrara, a marine mammal biologist in NOAA’s Fisheries office in Seattle.
