Save Willy Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill creates a Cetacean Desk within the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service to track large whales like humpbacks and orcas. This desk will help ships avoid hitting whales in the busy San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate areas.
• For four years, the program will use new technology, including artificial intelligence, to spot whales in real time. This information will be shared directly with ship captains so they can slow down or change course to prevent accidents.
• The Coast Guard and NOAA will work together with the State of California and local ports to run the program. They will also provide training to maritime workers on how to spot whale behavior and follow safety rules in protected areas.
• The program aims to reduce the number of whales killed or injured by large ships. Every year, the government will have to report on how well the program is working and if it is actually saving whales from vessel strikes.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.