Right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) skim feeding with N.O.A.A. ship Delaware II in the background.
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N.O.A.A. Fisheries Service is seeking comments on its suggestion to make permanent the rules it implemented 5 years ago to reduce the number of collisions between ships and North Atlantic right whales.
Right whales are among the most endangered species in the world, and are highly vulnerable to ship collisions. The rules, part of NOAA's long-standing efforts to recover right whales, are currently scheduled to expire in December 2013. NOAA's suggestion to make them permanent, which includes a 60-day public review period, was filed at the Federal Register today.
The existing rules, which reduce an ocean-going vessel's speed to ten knots or less during certain times and locations along the East Coast from Maine to Florida, have reduced the number of whales struck by ships since 2008, when the speed limits began. No right whale ship strike deaths have occurred in Seasonal Management Areas since the rule went into place. Modeling studies indicate the measures have reduced the probability of fatal ship strikes of right whales by 80 to 90 percent.
N.O.A.A. biologists believe there are approximately 450 right whales in the NW Atlantic population. The whales face a number of challenges, including ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.
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Also, NOAA's revised estimates indicate that the restrictions cost the shipping industry and other maritime communities about one-third of original 2008 projections. N.O.A.A. scientists say that industry participation and compliance is high, and that in most cases vessels have incorporated speed restrictions into their standard operations and voyage planning.
"Reducing ship speeds in areas where there are endangered right whales works," said N.O.A.A. Fisheries' acting administrator Sam Rauch. "It is a proven method to reduce deaths and serious injury to these incredible creatures. Making these protections permanent will make U.S. East Coast waters safer for right whales, and will allow them to reach full maturity, which is critical to their long-term survival."
North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered species in the world. Historically depleted by commercial whaling, they suffers injury and death from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.
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The rule suggests to continue existing speed restrictions during migration periods along 3 regions of the U.S. East Coast (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast). These measures are implemented during the time of year when right whales occur in each area. Speed restrictions apply to vessels that are 65 feet in length or greater, except federal agency vessels.
The suggested rule also looks for public input on ways to measure the effectiveness of the existing speed restrictions and whether they should be phased out in the future.
This suggested rule is part of a more comprehensive approach to conserve right whales, including consulting on operations of federal ships under the Endangered Species Act, developing an expanded outreach and education program, and modifying shipping routes in waters of Massachusetts, Georgia and Florida. N.O.A.A. has also developed a dynamic management plan whereby vessel operators are asked to travel less than ten knots or avoid areas where whales occur in times and places not covered by seasonal speed restriction zones. Scientists expect these actions to significantly reduce the risks to right whales from ships.
N.O.A.A. scientists and partners attempt to disentangle endangered right whale.
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The North Atlantic right whale primarily occurs in coastal or shelf waters. Its known range includes winter calving and nursery areas in coastal waters off the southeastern United States, and summer feeding grounds in New England waters and north to the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf.
Historically depleted by commercial whaling, the North Atlantic right whale suffers injury and death from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. These events may continue to contribute to the species decline and inability to recover. Biologists believe that there are approximately 450 right whales in the Northwest Atlantic population, and that the number is growing steadily.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 requires recovery projects to serve as guides to promote the conservation and recovery of listed species. In 2005, N.O.A.A. Fisheries released a revised North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Project that provides an overall framework for promoting recovery of the whale. Measures to reduce risks posed by entanglement in fishing gear are contained in N.O.A.A. Fisheries' Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Project.
N.O.A.A. scientists and partners attempt to disentangle endangered right whale.
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Written comments on the suggested regulations filed today must be sent to N.O.A.A. Fisheries no later than August 6.
After publishing a suggested rule, NOAA's Fisheries Service considers the public comments and new information that may have been provided.
You may submit public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov or by visiting the review page on the Office of Protected Resources website at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/comment.htm. NOAA's Fisheries Service will also accept written comments mailed to: Office of Protected Resources, N.O.A.A. Fisheries, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; or faxed to 301-713-4060.
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