July 6, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries announces a new voluntary right whale Slow Zone. On July 2, 2021, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution acoustic buoy detected right whales southwest of Martha’s Vineyard. This Slow Zone is in effect through July 18, 2021.
Mariners are requested to route around this or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
Slow Zone Coordinates:
Southwest of Martha’s Vineyard, July 2-18, 2021
41 23 N
40 44 N
071 16 W
070 23 W
See the coordinates for all the slow zones currently in effect.
Active Seasonal Management Areas
Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:
Great South Channel, April 1 – July 31
Find out more and get the coordinates for each mandatory slow speed zone.
Give Right Whales Room
North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. NOAA is cautioning boaters and fishermen to give these endangered whales plenty of room. We are also asking all fishermen to be vigilant when maneuvering to avoid accidental collisions with whales and remove unused gear from the ocean to help avoid entanglements. Commercial fishermen should use vertical lines with required markings, weak links, and breaking strengths.
Right Whales in Trouble
North Atlantic right whales are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Scientists estimate there are only about 400 remaining, making them one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.
North Atlantic right whales are NOAA Fisheries’ newest Species in the Spotlight. This initiative is a concerted, agency-wide effort to spotlight and save marine species that are among the most at risk of extinction in the near future.
In August 2017, NOAA Fisheries declared the increase in right whale mortalities an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which helps the agency direct additional scientific and financial resources to investigating, understanding, and reducing the mortalities in partnership with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and outside experts from the scientific research community.