Regulations put in place more than 15 years ago to reduce the risk of lethal vessel strikes on endangered North Atlantic right whales in waters off the East Coast may change soon.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service announced in early March a request for information to modernize the 2008 vessel speed rule that currently prohibits vessels longer than 65 feet to travel faster than 10 knots (about 11 miles per hour) in management areas along the East Coast at certain times of the year. The rule was put in place to reduce the likelihood that ships could strike right whales and cause serious injury or death.
The right whale population, severely depleted by commercial whaling in the early 1900s to only a few hundred whales or fewer, never fully recovered. They were called right whales because they floated after they were killed, i.e. the baleen whales were the right ones to catch. And recent data show that there are approximately 380 individuals left, which is actually an increase of about 20 since 2020.
They’ve been listed as endangered since 1970, and though there are various protections for the species, human-caused mortalities and serious injuries, such as ship strikes and entanglement, continue to occur. Between 2017 and 2026, NOAA Fisheries reports that at least 26 died by entanglement or vessel strikes, and 108 were injured.
The seasonal management areas are mostly off big ports from Florida to Boston, and were based on information on the whereabouts of right whales in the early 2000s. Compliance is enforced by NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement. Dynamic management areas are also created when visual and acoustic sensors document right whales, though the speed restriction in those areas is voluntary. For a period of 15 days, boaters are encouraged to avoid those areas or reduce speeds.
A new rule was proposed by the administration of former President Joe Biden in 2021 because the species faced extinction, and science on the 2008 rule was old. It would’ve applied to an even smaller class of boats. A “firestorm of opposition,” Erica Fuller, senior counsel at Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), said, came from recreational fishermen, yachting groups, and offshore wind developers. The new rule never came to be.
And now, the administration of President Donald Trump wants to review and possibly deregulate the current rule.
“NOAA encourages economic prosperity in our oceans, and advancements in technology are increasingly allowing maritime commerce to coexist with endangered species,” Neil Jacobs, NOAA administrator, said in a press release. “This action is an important step in implementing the president’s vision of adopting modern technologies, supporting American industry, and promoting efficient and effective regulations.”
But Fuller from CLF, an environmental advocacy organization, said that the species can’t afford to lose a single whale, and the administration’s suggestion that new technology can better detect whales doesn’t reduce the need for speed zones. Technology can detect whales, but not mitigate vessel strikes, she said in an interview.
The March 6 announcement from NOAA Fisheries is an advance notice of a proposed rule. It asks that industry experts, coastal communities, and other stakeholders provide information “to reduce unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens” while ensuring conservation practices. After a 90-day comment period for the public through June 2, should NOAA move forward, then another public comment period would take place on the proposed rule.
“I don’t think we’re looking at changing the rules this year,” Fuller said. “But anything’s possible.”
I’m having a difficult time understanding how these politicians (and it’s not just Trump) Maura Healy shot these speed restrictions down a year ago but continues to push hard for Ropless fixed gear fishing technology.
Vessel strikes are THE leading cause of NARW mortalities by 80% over entanglements.
These speed restrictions aren’t in place for very long during the season, only when NARW are present and that varies from location to location.
Here again governmental hypocrisy and flip flopping.
Maura Healy says the whales aren’t here in Nantucket/Vineyard sounds ,so no need for speed restrictions, if that’s the case , then why should I have to have all the line requirements,seasonal closures , color coded line…?
Governor opposes NOAA vessel speed zones – The Martha’s Vineyard Times https://share.google/KKPMkLAP7pPpLilDq
Yup– I think she’s wrong about the speed limits. The whales are obviously here, drawn to the sweet rhythms of the windmills. But because she is wrong about one thing does not mean she is wrong about everything. As with most complicated issues, there is no single solution—
I’m not sure why the Trump administration would want to revisit the vessel speed rule that was put in place to help protect North Atlantic right whales. With a population estimated at only around 350 animals, this species is already on the brink. Scientists have repeatedly identified vessel strikes as one of the leading causes of death, which is exactly why the 2008 rule requiring larger vessels to slow to 10 knots in certain areas was created in the first place.
Slowing ships in known whale habitat seems like a reasonable precaution when the stakes are the survival of an entire species. A slower vessel gives both the crew and the whale a better chance to avoid a fatal collision. That doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request in waters where these animals migrate.
The waters south of Martha’s Vineyard are part of a migration corridor used by whales traveling along the Atlantic coast. Slowing vessels in those areas seems like a small step if it helps reduce the risk of fatal strikes.
Protecting a species this endangered shouldn’t be viewed through a political lens. It’s simply responsible stewardship of the ocean.
Once a species disappears, there’s no bringing it back.
It’s not just actions of the current administration but also the previous one and our own governor here in Massachusetts.
The previous administration had 4 years to expand the speed restrictions that were on the table but dragged their feet , the Healy administration adamantly opposed these restrictions in 2025 for various reasons (mostly financial though)
Vessel strikes aren’t one of the top threats to the NARW , they are the top threat by a large margin over entanglements.
The current NARW population numbers are hovering around 384 and that’s not including the 22 and counting calves born so far this year.
With that said , now is NOT the time to roll back these speed restrictions, especially when the same government keeps pushing for ropless fixed gear technology for fishermen.
Like I said in my comment above, government hypocrisy and flip flopping.
I’m not surprised for some reason. At least they aren’t proposing to allow the hunting of them again given the high price of oil these days.