Guest Opinion: There’s More We Can be Doing to Protect Gray Whales in Oregon

By Ian Giancarlo | environmentoregon.org

Of all animals, few travel as far every year as Pacific gray whales. Every year, they migrate between the warm waters off Mexico to colder ones off Alaska, and back. That’s an astonishing number of miles.

Within the past decade, gray whales in the Pacific were on the decline, with numbers hovering around 15,000. I’m glad to hear from your recent article “Oregon Coast’s Winter Whale Watch Week Starts December 27” that their numbers appear to have rebounded closer to 20,000.

At the end of this year, Oregonians will have the privilege to witness these critters migrate back down to Mexico. However, this is also a time to realize despite a population rebound, there’s more we can be doing to protect them, and all whales.

For one, derelict fishing gear remains a threat. Whales and other wildlife can get entangled and drown, or have their ability to swim impacted, which is a huge problem when they have to swim across oceans.

Also, a recent University of Washington study’s results indicate that vessel strikes are now the biggest threat to whales globally. It’s clear there’s more we can be doing to help whales.

We’re we to incorporate more ropeless fishing practices and also reduce vessel speeds and noise where whales are known to travel and feed, we’d be well on our way to safeguarding a better future for all whales.