Gray whale deaths surge in Bay Area waters

A new study reveals that at least 18% of gray whales entering San Francisco Bay since 2018 have died there, with vessel strikes as the leading cause. - At least nine gray whales have been found dead in Bay Area waters in 2026, on pace to challenge last year's record of 24.

- Over 40% of deaths showed evidence of pre-mortem vessel trauma, and 60% of fully necropsied carcasses bore strike signatures. - California's voluntary speed reduction program has only reduced strike deaths by 9-13%, while the East Coast has mandatory rules.

- The federal regulatory process for shipping lanes has been stalled since 2022, with a new lawsuit filed in 2025. The study's authors call for mandatory speed restrictions and route changes in San Francisco Bay to protect the whales.