The massive container ships passing through the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of Southern California will be paid a bonus of $2,500 per trip to slow down, in an effort to cut off-shore air pollution and reduce collisions with whales.

The four-month pilot program started in July, run by federal and local officials and an environmental group. It comes as the season for whales in the channel peaks.

Last week, a dead fin whale washed up at the beach and harbor city of Port Hueneme, south of Santa Barbara.