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More ships slow down off California to avoid killing whales
Updated 7:30 pm CDT, Friday, May 17, 2019
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A growing number of shipping companies are slowing down as they approach San Francisco and other California ports so they are less likely to injure or kill whales.
Marine experts say four of the 10 gray whales found dead near San Francisco this year were killed by ships, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday .
When the campaign started about six years ago, only 17% of incoming ships were slowing down, said Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary superintendent Maria Brown. Now 45% are throttling down by half, to 10 knots.
There are no speed limits at sea, so vessels can zip along as fast as they want, usually 20 knots, or about 23 mph (37 kph). The large vessels often travel through national marine sanctuaries to get to their destination ports.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Campaign-promotes-ship-slowdown-to-avoid-killing-13854266.php
