New voluntary right whale speed restriction zone southwest of Nantucket
by NOAA Fisheries 23 Mar 2018 21:15 UTC
Dynamic Management Areas © NOAA Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries announces that a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area or DMA) has been established 11 nautical miles southwest of Nantucket, MA to protect an aggregation of six right whales sighted in this area on March 20, 2018. This DMA is in effect immediately through April 4 2018.
Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
Voluntary Dynamic Management Areas(DMAs)
Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the following areas where persistent aggregations of right whales have been sighted. Find out more about ship strike reduction efforts.
Southwest of Nantucket, MA DMA -- in effect through April 4, 2018
41 28 N
40 47 N
070 45 W
069 46 W
Active Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs)
Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:
Cape Cod Bay SMA in effect through May 15, 2018
Block Island SMA in effect through April 30, 2018
New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk SMA kn effect through April 30, 2018
Right Whales in crisis
The year 2017 was devastating for North Atlantic right whales, which suffered a loss of 17 whales--about 4 percent of their population--an alarming number for such a critically endangered species with a population currently estimated at about 450 animals.
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.
On January 22, the first right whale mortality of 2018 was spotted off the Virginia coast.