January 22, 2025
$2 million to fund Supplemental Environmental Project aimed at reducing emissions from marine vessels
Container ship near Anacapa Island. | Photo: NOAA
The Protecting Blue Whales Blue Skies Program (BWBS) wants to share some exciting news coming from one of our partners, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD), and take a moment to explain the context behind it. In addition to reducing risk to endangered whales, BWBS addresses another critical environmental issue — the significant source of air pollution posed by maritime trade.
By slowing down to 10 knots, cargo, tanker and bulk ship operators reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In the 2023 season alone, the program resulted in an estimated reduction of 1,256 tons of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), 30.3 tons of oxides of sulfur (SOx), 6.3 tons of diesel particulate matter (DPM), and 45,784 metric tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs). These reductions correspond to an approximate decrease of 26% in NOx, SOx, and GHGs from enrolled ships' baseline emissions. NOx, a key contributor to ozone, is a significant issue for many California coastal communities, especially those overburdened by ports, high traffic, and industrial infrastructure. For context, the 2023 season NOx reduction impact is similar to converting 800,000 passenger vehicles to zero emissions for one year.
For this reason, VCAPCD, Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control Districts, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and Monterey Bay Air Resources District are critical partners in the program, working to incentivize the majority of containerized cargo ship operators (with enrollment numbers going up each year) to slow down.
Not only is their support and collaboration critical to the program’s success and day-to-day operations, but they’ve been uniquely able to secure the primary source of funding that made the program possible — funds that go to BWBS’ research and analysis, staff time, and ship operator and ambassador recognition and media campaigns.
“Ocean-going vessels contribute a large portion of the smog-forming NOx emissions affecting coastal California communities, including Ventura County,” said Tyler Harris, VCAPCD’s Planning, Rules, and Incentives Manager. “The voluntary Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program is a critical component of our air pollution emissions reduction strategy since ocean-going vessels are outside local air district regulatory authority. This partnership of air districts, marine sanctuaries, nonprofit organizations, shipping companies and ambassador companies is a great example of the amazing environmental benefits that are possible if we work together.”
As highlighted here, VCAPCD has led the way in securing funding through the California Air Resources Control Board (CARB) Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Policy. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all California air pollution control efforts to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards, and their SEP Policy allows entities running afoul of their air quality regulations to direct some of the penalties paid to community-based projects. In this case, the BWBS Program received more than $2 million, yielding net reductions in air pollutants that help the air districts work toward their air quality improvement goals.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies is a collaborative effort by the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Ventura County Air Pollution Control District; Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District; San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District; Monterey Bay Air Resources District; Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Channel Islands, Monterey Bay and Greater Farallones/Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries; The Volgenau Foundation; National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Greater Farallones Association; Environmental Defense Center; Point Blue Conservation Science; Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory; Starcrest Consulting; and Scripps Whale Acoustic Laboratory/Scripps Institution of Oceanography.