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Chair praises Coast Guard's whale-desk traffic-alert system, urges expansion after Alaska strike
Summary
The chair highlighted a whale-protection traffic-alert system authorized in the 2022 Coast Guard Authorization Act as a successful program in the Pacific Northwest and urged the Coast Guard to expand it following a recent whale strike in Alaska.
The chair highlighted implementation successes, citing the 2022 Coast Guard Authorization Act's authorization of a whale desk traffic-alert system that supplies near-real-time location data to mariners.
Speaking about regional effects, the chair said the program has been "a success in my home state," helping make maritime operations safer and reducing noise pollution around whales. A recent whale strike in Alaska prompted the chair to urge the Coast Guard and witnesses to discuss expanding the system to other regions.
The chair said Congress reauthorized the program and that lawmakers will work with the Coast Guard to consider broader deployment to reduce vessel strikes and better protect marine life.
