EU citizens demand slower ships to help save whales

Brussels, 15 September 2025. Over a quarter of a million people across the EU have called on the European Commission to reduce ship speeds in its waters, to protect marine life such as whales. On 12 September 2025, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) submitted a petition with 258,023 signatures to the European Commission, calling for mandatory speed restrictions for ships to reduce underwater noise and the risk of collision with whales.

Noise pollution caused by fast moving commercial ships contributes to the fact that 97% of EU marine waters still fall short of "good environmental status" when it comes to underwater noise pollution - the EU legal standard initially set for 2020. Vague rules, a lack of binding measures, weak enforcement by Member States and uncertain funding are the main reasons behind the lack of progress.

Constant noise causes challenging conditions for whales and other cetaceans to feed, rest and communicate, threatening all marine life. Binding EU noise limits were only set in 2024, and countries still need clear guidance to put them into practice.

The proposal for mandatory speed limits aligns with the Commission's preparation to revise the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as part of the Ocean Pact.

The MSFD revision provides an opportunity to turn guidance into clear, mandatory measures that work at sea. IFAW's Blue Speeds initiative offers a fast and easy solution. Globally, cutting ship speeds by as little as 10% can have a big impact, by reducing underwater noise from shipping by a staggering 40%. This also halves the risk of whale collisions and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by around 13%. Slower speeds also mean lower fuel use, which is good for the climate and for shipowners' fuel bills.

"We are seeing a tidal wave of support from citizens across the continent that want to see whales, dolphins and other marine life protected from the deadly impacts of noise pollution and ship strikes. Together, we are calling for the adoption of mandatory measures to slow down commercial ships - an essential step to restore calmer oceans, giving marine animals a chance to communicate, feed, and thrive. We urge the European Commission to set legally binding EU speed limits and ensure they are effectively implemented," said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy & Advocacy, Europe, IFAW.

"The tools exist, and the time to act is now. In fact, adopting Blue Speeds would also help the maritime sector to implement the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, a recent EU measure to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels," added Di Silvestre.

IFAW asks the European legislators to:

• Make Blue Speeds mandatory for commercial vessels using EU ports.
• Issue clear guidance so countries can meet the good environmental status standard on underwater noise.
• Move busy shipping routes away from whale hotspots.
• Equip bridges with real-time whale alerts.

The recent EU support to the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean is a welcome step in the right direction. Europe must now set clear rules and lead global change through impactful and practical solutions that protect whales and reduce emissions, while benefiting the maritime economy.

ENDS

Further information on Blue Speeds: https://www.bluespeeds.org

Contact:

Jürgen Noack Communications Consultant [email protected] +32 470 48 49 05 (m)