In just the first year of the Partnership, we’ve made measurable progress across all fronts
Responded to 6 entangled whales
CRC responded to entangled whales in California, Oregon, and Washington.
We discovered two additional entanglements during research surveys.
Multi-day efforts were required for two responses, totaling nearly 10 days at sea.
Watch a news story about Check’s disentanglement here
Advanced network capacity
NOAA promoted one of CRC responders to Level 3 authorization, strengthening the network’s ability to respond to entanglements in California.
Click below to learn more about the West Coast Large Whale Entanglement Response Network and the Levels for Authorized Responders
Improved responders’ skillsets
Conducted a Level 4 training in Moss Landing, California, working with L3 responders from Marine Life Studies, The Marine Mammal Center, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories at San Jose State University, and Cascadia to prepare them to lead responses and manage teams.
Led a multi-day Level 3 training in Olympia, Washington, enhancing the skills of Level 2 responders from SR3, The Whale Museum, and Cascadia (learn more about 2025 trainings here).
Participated in an advanced-level training in Whaler’s Cove, Alaska, with members of the Hawaiian Large Whale Entanglement Response Network and Alaska Large Whale Entanglement Response Network.
Conducted outreach events
Provided Level 2 training to the Pacific Northwest Whale Watching Association and the whale watching community in Monterey Bay.
Conducted public outreach events in Washington and California to engage communities and raise awareness.
Reach out to us if you are interested in our team giving your organization/club/class a presentation about large whale entanglements.
These achievements have been made possible through support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (for California-based activities), NOAA Prescott Grant (for Washington-based activities), and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (for vessel support during California responses). We are grateful to these organizations for making this vital work possible.
We greatly appreciate tools and equipment donations from Spyderco that make responses possible.
And we’re just getting started!
Future work and collaborations
- This fall, we’re heading to Southern California to support training and response efforts in the Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands region.
- We are completing scientific papers that will help managers reduce whale-gear conflict, such as identifying where whales become entangled versus where they’re first reported entangled.
- We’ve starting building new relationship and solidified old ones surrounding the entanglement issue at the Industry, State, Tribal, and Federal levels.
- We’ve submitted multiple grant applications to improve our understanding of entanglement risk, implement methods to reduce risk, and continue to increase response capacity.
However, the future of federal programs is now uncertain. We are currently searching for new funding options and looking to people like you to help fund these projects and our response activities, ensuring continued progress to reduce entanglement risk for whales!
Want to help whales along the West Coast?
Here’s how:
1. Report Entangled Whales: 1-877-767-9425
If you see a whale in distress, report it immediately. Every unreported case represents not only a serious welfare concern, but a missed opportunity to gather critical data that can drive future prevention efforts. Call 1-877-767-9425 (1 877 SOS WHAL) or hail US Coast Guard on Ch16 to report an entangled whale.
Timely reports can save lives and support long-term solutions – learn more about standing by and reporting entangled whales.
2. Support Cascadia
With future federal funding uncertain, we are counting on you to be guardians for these ocean giants. Your donation helps ensure our trained responders can remain ready to act, that our research continues, and that progress toward an entanglement-free future doesn’t stall.
Help us keep whales safe in the Pacific Northwest and beyond – donate here or contact us to learn about more ways you can support our work.
3. Educate and Stay Informed
Share what you’ve learned! Encourage others to report entanglements, support response efforts, and get involved. Stay up to date on our research and response efforts by following us on social media!
Together we can create a safer ocean for whales – starting with the ones who need us most
All response activities are conducted by authorized responders under NOAA permit #24359, following international and national safety standards that prohibit entering the water and prioritize the safety of both whale and crew.
Images taken under and research & response activities conducted under NOAA permit #’s 16111, 18786, 21678, 24359, and 28850.