Ship strikes are a leading cause of death for gray, blue, fin, and humpback whales off California’s coast. In the Bay Area alone, ships have likely killed at least 10 gray whales this year, and research shows that strikes kill about 80 whales off the West Coast annually (possibly a lot more). These deaths are no coincidence, considering that shipping lanes route traffic through several hotspots where whales congregate. So the Center and Friends of the Earth just sued the Trump administration for failing to study how California shipping-lane designations hurt whales (and sea turtles too). “The administration is legally required to consider minimizing harm to whales and sea turtles, and officials need to take this problem seriously,” said Center attorney David Derrick. Help us fight for whales with a gift to our Future for the Wild Fund! [Image description: A humpback jumps from the water at Kenai Fjords National Park. Behind the whale is a large rock, and beyond that are rows ...