In response to a significant rise in gray whale deaths due to ship strikes, California has introduced WhaleSpotter, an AI-based detection network designed to monitor whale activity in San Francisco Bay. This innovative system can detect whale blows and heat signatures from up to two nautical miles away, alerting mariners to adjust their speed or change course, thereby minimizing the risk of collisions. The initiative comes as the number of gray whales found dead in the Bay Area reached 21 last year, the highest in 25 years, with at least 40% of these fatalities linked to ship strikes. The eastern North Pacific gray whale population has plummeted from 26,000 to approximately 13,000 over the last decade, raising alarms among conservationists. The WhaleSpotter system uniquely combines data from both land-based and vessel-mounted cameras, allowing for near-real-time updates to mariners. Additionally, California has taken steps to mitigate whale entanglement in fishing gear by approving ropeless pop-up crab traps, which help protect marine life while allowing fishermen to continue their operations. As climate change alters ocean conditions and whale migration patterns, ongoing adaptive management will be crucial in safeguarding these marine mammals.