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Press Release | Feb. 16, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard to unveil cetacean desk pilot program to reduce cetacean disturbances in Salish Sea

The newly established cetacean desk program, aimed at preventing whale disturbances in the Salish Sea, is located in the Coast Guard's Puget Sound Vessel Traffic System office in Seattle, Washington, Feb. 21, 2024. The cetacean desk was authorized, developed and implemented through the Don Young Authorization Act of 2022. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Third Class Annika Hirschler)

U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Public Affairs Office: 206-220-7237 Cell: 206-251-3237

Editor’s note: Media interested in attending should RSVP with Coast Guard public affairs by emailing uscgd13@gmail.com by 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19.

WHAT: Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound is scheduled to launch a cetacean desk pilot program designed to reduce ship strikes and cetacean disturbances in Salish Sea.

WHO: Coast Guard

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound (1519 Alaskan Way S., Seattle, WA 98134)

SEATTLE – U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound is scheduled to launch a cetacean desk pilot program Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

The cetacean desk pilot program was authorized, developed, and implemented through the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022.

This pilot program seeks to provide near real time data about the location of cetaceans within the Salish Sea to marine pilots and mariners operating in the area using the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service system. The goal of the program is to reduce instances of ship strikes and cetacean disturbances in the area.

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