RESOLUTION NO. _____
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA SUPPORTING THE
FREE AND SAFE PASSAGE OF WHALES, SEA TURTLES, AND OTHER MARINE ANIMALS IN ALAMEDA’S COASTAL WATERS AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S VISION ZERO TARGET OF ZERO MORTALITY FOR WHALES AND SEA TURTLES .
WHEREAS, The city of Alameda values our state’s ocean and coastal waters, which provide habitat to a vast array of wildlife, including fish, whales, sea turtles, and birds that depend on a healthy and clean environment; and
WHEREAS, Alameda’s residents and its visitors enjoy our beaches, local marine life, and the Pacific Ocean for recreational, commercial, and educational activities, all of which support our local economy; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, the Alameda City Council passed the Alameda Disposable Food Service Ware Reduction Law —a law created to reduce the amount of single-use plastic generated within the city of Alameda and prevent plastic pollution from entering the ocean and environment; and WHEREAS, In 2018. the city of Alameda partnered with The Ocean Cleanup to support the launch of the world’s first ocean cleanup system to be trialed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; and
WHEREAS, The state of California designated the endangered Pacific leatherback turtle as the state marine reptile in 2012; and
WHEREAS, The state of California designated the gray whale as the state marine mammal in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes are two of the main sources of human-caused serious injury and mortality for whales and sea turtles; and WHEREAS, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed more than 20 instances of whales or sea turtles being entangled in fishing gear off the coast of California since 2021; and
WHEREAS, The National Marine Fisheries Service recorded 49 documented instances of ships killing large whales off the California coast between 2007 and 2020 with scientists believing the actual number could be 20 times higher; and
WHEREAS, The 40-foot female Gray whale found dead in April of 2024 near Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda was likely killed by blunt force trauma from a vessel strike; and
WHEREAS, Developing and managing whale and sea turtle-safe commercial and recreational activities is critical to protecting marine life, and preventing extinction; and WHEREAS, the California Ocean Protection Council approved the Strategic Plan to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean which includes a target of zero mortality (Vision Zero) for whales and sea turtles; and
WHEREAS, in 2014 the City of San Francisco adopted Resolution No. 397-14, supporting the free and safe passage of whales and dolphins and declaring that every whale and dolphin has the right to remain unrestricted in their natural environment; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Alameda supports the free and safe passage of all whales and sea turtles that traverse our coastal waters and supports the state of California’s commitment to preventing whale and sea turtle entanglements and vessel strikes, commitment to investing in whale-safe fisheries by supporting innovative technologies like on-demand fishing gear, and commitment to ensuring that current and future generations of Californians can enjoy our state’s rich marine biodiversity.