PBWBS Program

Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies is a voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Program along the coast of California which incentivizes shipping companies to slow the speeds of their vessels in our local ocean backyard!

Historically ocean cargo vessels traveled the world’s oceans at speeds needed to meet their schedules or arrival times. However, in the last decade the benefits of slowing vessels down near coastlines and in biologically sensitive parts of the ocean have become clear. Slower vessels produce less pollution, are safer for ocean creatures like whales, and importantly produce much less underwater noise. In Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, emissions from offshore vessels of all types contribute a significant amount of nitrous oxides (NOx) which blow into our local air basin from offshore.