The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 expands federal efforts to map, monitor, and mitigate risks to migratory whales and other large cetaceans through new data collection, technology grants, and near real-time tracking programs.
Doris Matsui
Representative
CA-7
The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 expands federal efforts to protect migratory whales and other large cetaceans. This legislation mandates the creation of high-accuracy distribution maps for whale habitats and funds research into understudied species. It also establishes a competitive grant program to develop and deploy technologies that reduce harmful interactions between whales and ocean users, such as vessel strikes.
Whale CHARTS Act to Map Migration Routes and Fund New Detection Tech by 2026
The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 is essentially a high-tech upgrade for how we share the ocean with its largest residents. Instead of relying on old data, the bill requires the government to create high-accuracy, digital maps of whale 'neighborhoods'—the specific spots where they eat, mate, and travel. These maps won't just sit on a shelf; they have to be machine-readable so they can plug directly into ship navigation systems. It’s like giving cargo ships and fishing boats a live GPS update for where to avoid a collision, backed by $2 million in annual funding through 2030.
High-Tech Navigation for the High Seas Under Section 2, the bill moves beyond basic mapping into real-time tracking. It sets aside $5 million a year for a subprogram that uses sensors to spot endangered whales as they move. For someone working on a commercial vessel or running a whale-watching tour, this means better data to avoid accidental strikes, which can be devastating for both the wildlife and the boat. The bill also tasks the Under Secretary of Commerce with surveying 'understudied' species, ensuring we aren't ignoring less famous whale types simply because we haven't checked their numbers lately.
Grants for Maritime Innovation One of the most practical parts of this bill is a $10 million grant program managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This money is earmarked for people developing new tech to help humans and whales coexist. If you’re a developer at a maritime tech startup or a small business owner in the fishing industry, this is a direct opportunity to fund tools that reduce 'harmful interactions.' The bill specifically tells the government to prioritize U.S. small businesses in the fishing, tourism, and maritime sectors when handing out these checks.
The Fine Print on Funding and Data While the bill is largely about better data, it does leave some room for interpretation. It relies on the 'best available science' to draw these maps, which can sometimes be a moving target in the scientific community. Additionally, while the grant program is a win for local businesses, it’s mostly closed off to non-U.S. entities unless they are in a specific partnership. For the average person, the result should be a more predictable ocean: fewer accidents for the shipping industry that brings us our goods, and better protection for whale populations that drive coastal tourism.