Oceana has launched a new “Whales in Crisis” public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring actress Cobie Smulders that calls on decision makers to do more to save whales from deadly entanglements in fishing gear off the West Coast of the United States.

Entanglement in fishing gear is a top threat to endangered animals off the West Coast, including humpback whales and leatherback sea turtles. While most of these deadly entanglements go undetected, 27 whales were confirmed entangled in fishing gear off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington in 2023, five of which were humpback whales entangled in California commercial Dungeness crab gear.  

Last month, Oceana applauded the California Ocean Protection Council for authorizing new funding that invests in ropeless (also called “pop-up” or “on-demand”) technology for the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Oceana looks forward to continuing to work with fishers, gear manufacturers, fishery managers, and enforcement officers on large-scale testing and authorization of ropeless gear for use in future spring months when waters are closed to conventional gear to avoid whale and sea turtle entanglements.

Oceana urges California, Oregon, and Washington to enact stronger protections when conventional fishing gear is used to provide whales and sea turtles with safe passage as they swim and feed off the West Coast.

Learn more here.