This bill matters because it addresses a critical issue: protecting large whales from human activities, particularly collisions with vessels, which are a major cause of whale injuries and deaths. By requiring more comprehensive mapping and monitoring of all migratory whales, not just endangered ones, it could lead to more effective strategies for whale conservation.

If this bill becomes law, mariners will have better information about where whales are, which could help them avoid accidents, making the oceans safer for both marine life and people. If it doesn't pass, current efforts to track and protect whales may remain less comprehensive, potentially allowing preventable injuries and deaths to continue, especially for non-endangered migratory species that might still be at risk.