Several environmental groups have filed petitions to the federal government, advocating a speed-limit along california’s protected coast line. The petition,( filed on Monday), seeks to impose a 10-knot-per-hour limit, in areas designated as “Marine sanctuaries,” including the Monterey bay national marine sanctuary, (which covers much of the northern coast). Environmental groups hope the speed- limit will help large ships avoid colliding with whales. The national oceanic atmospheric administration is set to review the petition, which was filed by 4 groups: pacific environment, the environmental defense center, the center for biological diversity, and friends of the earth.)