NOAA publishes proposals to reduce ship collisions with whales

NOAA publishes proposals to reduce ship collisions with whales The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking comments on a proposal designed to reduce the number of North Atlantic right whales injured or killed by collisions with large ships.
   The final environmental impact statement, an 850 page document, contains six alternatives designed to protect the whales, of which there are about 300 in existence.
   NOAA said its “preferred alternative,” would require a vessel speed restriction of 10 knots or less in designated areas.
   The 10-knot speed limit would apply to right whale feeding grounds along the coast in the U.S. Northeast and to calving grounds near the U.S. Southeast, where the whales spend most of their time. In the mid-Atlantic area where right whales migrate 10-knot speed restrictions would extend out to 20 nautical miles around the major ports.
   NOAA’s Fisheries Service researchers report that about 83 percent of right whale sightings in the mid-Atlantic were within 20 nautical miles of shore. The preferred alternative also would establish temporary voluntary speed limits when aggregations of three or more right whales are confirmed.
   The final environmental impact statement on the right whale ship strike reduction rule is a step in the process to promulgate a final rule. NOAA is seeking comments on it through Sept. 29.
   Additional information can be found here: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/.