The rise in gray whale deaths highlights the urgent need for mitigation measures. Ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are major threats, with gray whale populations declining by 50% over the past decade. The WhaleSpotter system offers a critical tool for reducing these risks, particularly in high-traffic areas like the San Francisco Bay. However, the ongoing impacts of climate change, including warming waters and disrupted food webs, continue to pose long-term challenges for whale conservation.