Save Willy Act of 2026

This legislation establishes a four-year pilot program to create a Cetacean Desk within the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service. The desk, to be located and staffed within the existing service, aims to enhance efforts to mitigate vessel impacts on large cetaceans, such as whales and orcas, in the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate strait. Its core functions include improving coordination with the maritime industry to reduce risks from vessel strikes and disturbances, and actively monitoring the presence and location of these marine mammals.

The Cetacean Desk personnel will engage directly with vessel operators in areas where large cetaceans are present, communicating sightings and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and voluntary guidance. The program emphasizes leveraging existing data collection methods, public data, and new technologies, including automated and AI-enabled tools, to improve detection, tracking, and communication. These technologies will help disseminate real-time information to vessel operators, thereby reducing the likelihood of interactions.

Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary to implement local variances to facilitate communication and voluntary coordination between vessel operators and the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service regarding cetacean presence. It also allows for cooperative agreements to provide training on marine mammal protection guidance, vessel buffer zones, speed limits, and protected areas. Annual reports will be submitted to Congress, evaluating the program's functionality, communication efficacy, and its success in reducing vessel strikes on large cetaceans.