Why Whale Safety Isn’t the Same in Canada and the U.S.—And What Can Be Done About It – Ocean Wise
Dec 8, 2025
Experts urge swift, coordinated action to close protection gaps and prevent rising collision threats.
[December 9, 2025, Vancouver] A new study from Ocean Wise, “Bridging borders: Toward alignment of environmental regulations in the Salish Sea for whale conservation”, published in Marine Policy, examines how inconsistent environmental regulations between Canada and the United States are undermining efforts to protect endangered whales and their prey in the Salish Sea.
The Salish Sea is an ecologically significant waterbody spanning from Washington State (U.S.) in the south and British Columbia (Canada) in the north. It encompasses important habitat for Southern Resident killer whales and humpback whales, both of which suffer from the impacts of vessel disturbance, reduced prey availability, and ocean pollution.
