“With a thriving global maritime industry, it’s critical that vessels can travel alongside whale populations without risking dangerous collisions.”
Legislation Directs NOAA to Modernize Whale Habitat Mapping and Detection Tools
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) and Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) to introduce the bipartisan Whale Conservation Habitat Analysis, Research, and Technical Strategies (CHARTS) Act, legislation to protect whales and improve maritime safety.
The Whale CHARTS Act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve maps of current whale habitat and develop predictive maps that forecast future shifts in whale populations in response to changing environmental conditions. The bill also advances near-real time whale detection technologies to help prevent deadly collisions between vessels and baleen and sperm whales by improving our understanding of feeding areas, calving grounds and migration routes.
“With a thriving global maritime industry, it’s critical that vessels can travel alongside whale populations without risking dangerous collisions,” said Buchanan. “The Whale CHARTS Act strengthens NOAA’s ability to map baleen and sperm whale habitats using better data and modern technology, protecting marine wildlife while keeping recreational and commercial boaters safe. As Co-Chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I will always fight for solutions that safeguard animals without disrupting mariners and the public who rely on and enjoy our oceans.”
“For too long, whale protection has been treated like a zero-sum fight. This bill is about choosing a better way,” said Matsui. “With clearer whale maps and near real time detection tools, we can help captains avoid whales before a collision happens, protect endangered species, and keep fishermen on the water doing the work they love. That kind of progress only happens when people who care deeply about the ocean, from maritime workers to conservation advocates, come together to advance practical solutions.”
“Current predictive maps don’t give us a good picture of where whales are feeding and calving. That puts both these magnificent animals and boaters at risk of dangerous collisions,” said Malliotakis. “This legislation directs NOAA to conduct more research and mapping so we can protect our whales and keep our mariners and everyone who loves our waters safe.”
“Knowing where whales are in our waters is key to protecting whales and boaters alike,” said Dexter. “The Whale CHARTS Act will deploy the best available technology to improve whale tracking, helping prevent deadly collisions and protect these species for generations to come. This is a win-win policy for whales as well as for the people who work and recreate in marine waters.”
“Having dedicated a majority of my career to preserving the Chesapeake Bay, I know firsthand how crucial accurate data is to ensuring our work reflects a thoughtful balance between recreation and conservation,” said Elfreth. “I’m proud to co-sponsor the bipartisan Whale CHARTS Act to not only support conservation efforts for our critical marine mammals, but make our waters safer for our wildlife and our watermen.”
“The Whale CHARTS Act will protect whales and boaters alike by deploying cutting-edge technologies to better track and monitor migratory whales,” said Carter. “I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to prevent vessel strikes and better understand America's marine wildlife.”
The Whale CHARTS Act directs NOAA, in consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission and non-federal stakeholders, to develop high-resolution maps showing where migratory whales are located today and where they may be in the future, as well as conduct surveys for understudied whale populations. It encourages NOAA to use modern data sources, including passive acoustic monitoring and satellite-based detection, to improve map accuracy. NOAA must make these maps readily available in formats that commercial and recreational mariners can use onboard to help reduce collisions.
The bill also establishes a grant program to fund tools that will improve the near-real time detection of migratory whales, reducing deadly collisions and other harmful interactions between ocean users and these iconic species. Finally, NOAA is required to publicly report on its mapping and surveying efforts, and on the effectiveness of the projects funded by the grant program.
As co-chair of the 30-member bipartisan Florida congressional delegation, Buchanan has an extensive record of preserving Florida’s waterways and pristine coastline. He has previously secured $8 million for red tide research and backed a proposal signed into law by President Trump to provide more than $100 million to combat harmful algal blooms. In 2019, the U.S. House overwhelmingly approved Buchanan’s measure to study the impact of red tide on human health. Buchanan’s amendment instructs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to designate $6.25 million to research the long-term health effects of red tide and other harmful algal blooms.
Full text of the bill is available here.
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