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Oregon's Marine Mammal Institute is trying to introduce a new vehicle license plate — featuring whales.

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Oregon’s Marine Mammal Institute is trying to introduce a new vehicle license plate. Marine Mammal Institute

The plate would have mother and calf grey whales, with a lighthouse in the background and the title ‘Coastal Playground,' “The idea is that the coast is a wonderful place to come and play for ourselves, but there are other things out there living and playing also,” said Oregon State University professor, Bruce Mate.

He said the mammal institute is trying to be the first organization to introduce a plate under new regulations from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The institute has already raised the $85,000 needed to have the plate reviewed and to show the state it's serious. And this week volunteers are spread along the coast asking people to sign an 'expression of interest' form. They need 3,000 signatures.

If successful, the plate would cost $40 more than a regular plate, with most of those funds going to the mammal institute, “And we will use those for whale research, graduate student studies and public outreach programs,” said Mate.

The new plate could be available by the summer.

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