Protecting Blue Whales and Blues Skies | Sean Hastings | TEDxSantaBarbaraSalon

Shipping traffic in the Santa Barbara Channel and along the California coast significantly contributes to air pollution and fatal strikes on endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales. The voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) program encourages vessels to slow to 10 knots or less, effectively reducing pollution, whale strikes, and ocean noise.

Sean, the resource protection coordinator at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary since 1997, develops policies and programs to address impacts from various uses. He also manages emergency response, enforcement, and community relations. Sean was instrumental in establishing marine protected area networks to restore fish and invertebrate populations and habitats within the sanctuary and state waters.

This talk was given at a TEDx event.