Approximately 61% of shipping carriers are voluntarily participating in a program to reduce underwater noise in Puget Sound. On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee joined sustainable maritime organization Maritime Blue, representatives from the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma, shipping representatives and other partners in Seattle for an update on the progress of "Quiet Sound" efforts. Quiet Sound coordinates efforts to measure and reduce underwater noise so whales can find food. Projects include improving and supporting the Whale Report Alert System, instituting a trial slowdown area, analyzing gap areas to potentially install more hydrophones and a technology challenge to advance whale detection capabilities. More specifics on each project's purpose and the progress made can be found here.  On Friday, Quiet Sound announced that 61% of shipping carriers voluntarily participated in the first four weeks of a "trial slowdown" in north Puget Sound waters. "We've laid out that quiet welcome mat for whales and they've been taking full advantage of it this year," said Quiet Sound Program Director Rachel Aronson.  As partners discussed progress, Southern Resident orcas were busy swimming in Puget Sound, spotted in Discovery Bay and near Alki Point mid-morning. "The whales are here, right now, they've been swimming back and forth in West Seattle today," Aronson said. "So we know we're making a difference for the whales right now as they're here in their habitat." READ THE FULL STORY: https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/celebrate-progress-southern-resident-orca-protection-efforts/281-35283fab-07f7-43f0-8190-f14deda3df54