The primary goal of this focus area is to encourage large commercial ships—such as cargo vessels, tankers, and cruise ships—to voluntarily change their operations to reduce noise and physical disturbance to Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) when the whales are present in Washington state waters.

Rather than relying on regulations, Quiet Sound focuses on collaboration, encouraging operators to slow down or adjust their behavior when it is safe and feasible to do so.

Key efforts in this area include:

• Admiralty Inlet Slowdown: Large ships are asked to slow down in Admiralty Inlet and parts of northern Puget Sound when whales are in the area. The Quiet Sound coalition analyzes data from these slowdowns to decide if they need to adjust things like speed, timing, or the specific areas covered to increase the benefits to SRKW.
• Expanding to New Areas: The team is currently assessing other locations in Washington waters beyond Puget Sound where a voluntary program could provide extra protection for the whales.
• Addressing Many Types of Vessels: While large oceangoing ships are a major focus, the Quiet Sound program has also developed specific recommendations for other types of vessels, such as passenger-only fast ferries and tugboats, to mitigate their noise and the risk of striking or disturbing whales.
• Encouraging Participation: Because these measures are voluntary, a critical part of the work is motivating shipping companies to join. Quiet Sound encourages participation by highlighting co-benefits for the companies, such as fuel savings, meeting sustainability goals, and receiving public recognition for their conservation efforts.