Whale Protection Speed Limits Off US East Coast

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced speed restrictions for all vessels of 65 metres or longer. Vessels must travel at 10 knots or less in certain locations at certain times of the year. The aim is to reduce the threat of ship collisions with endangered North Atlantic right whales.  The NOAA website has details of the areas, including maps and information about what speed limits will be imposed and when. You can see the NOAA notification on this link.

For more information on speed limits introduced to reduce whale strikes please see a previous Sea Venture article by Sarah Nowak, Change in California Shipping Lanes to Reduce Whale Strikes.