Beach-goers in California and Oregon from April to December can often see migrating humpback whales along the coastline as they make their yearly migration to warmer waters in Mexico. A new proposal for a national marine sanctuary along the west coast of the U.S. would help protect these whales along their journey.
The proposal, created by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Commerce Department, would set aside 300,000 protected square miles with certain areas excluded for fishing and military purposes.
The Pacific Humpback whale was added to the endangered species list in the 1970s, but conservation efforts and the International Whaling Commission’s moratorium against commercial whaling has helped bring the species back from the brink. If approved, this new proposal would be another instrumental policy for protecting these gentle giants.
