Cruise Lines Encouraged to Participate in Initiatives for Safer Whales, Cleaner Air, and a Quieter Ocean

After a decade of successful efforts in reducing ship strikes and improving coastal air quality, the Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) program is now inviting cruise lines to participate. This program, a collaboration involving various environmental organizations, has effectively motivated over 50 global cargo shipping lines to adhere to a speed limit of 10 knots in critical whale habitats since its inception in 2014.

The initiative received a boost when Assembly Bill 14 was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025, establishing BWBS as a statewide program that expands its scope to include cruise lines. With this expansion, the program aims to enhance protections for endangered whales while simultaneously improving air quality.

Over the years, participants in BWBS have collectively navigated hundreds of thousands of nautical miles at safer speeds, resulting in significant environmental benefits. Achievements include avoiding nearly 6,000 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and over 200,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as decreasing the risk of fatal ship strikes by 50%.

The BWBS initiative recognizes the potential impact of cruise ships, which have typically been excluded from participating due to their high power demands. Recent assessments suggest that if cruise ships reduce their speeds to adhere to BWBS guidelines, they could contribute meaningfully to air quality improvements and the safeguarding of whale habitats.

In the previous season, 38 cruise ships from 17 companies traveled through California’s Vessel Speed Reduction zones, representing an opportunity for environmental enhancement given their proportionate emissions compared to their travel distance.

Cruise lines are encouraged to enroll in the BWBS program for the 2026 season, ensuring they benefit from program updates and performance reports while contributing to both whale protection and cleaner coastal air.

For further information on the program, visit Blue Whales and Blue Skies. For enrollment details for cruise lines, check out the Cruise Line Program.

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