Ship Strike Reduction Rule Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales
NOAA officials subject a ruling that will realize new measures to protect scarce North Atlantic right whales. The directive will, for the first time, necessitate large ships to decrease speed to ten knots in areas where the whales supply and imitate, as well as along traveling routes in between. The goal of the instruction is to trim down the risk of ship collisions with the whales.
“The ship strike rule, based on science, is a major addition to NOAA’s arsenal of protections for this endangered species," said Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., under desk of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
With only 300 to 400 in existence, North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered whales in the world. Slow affecting accurate whales are highly susceptible to ship collision, since their relocation route crosses major East Coast shipping lanes. Along with presented measures to prevent embarrassment of right whales in fishing gear, the new ship strike reduction rule is the most inclusive approach that NOAA has taken in its effort to help right whales recover.
The new rule call for vessels to travel at ten knots or less during the seasons whales are estimated to be present, in designated areas along the East Coast. It will be up for renewal in five years, after scientists assess its success. The rule will go into effect in early December, 60 days after book in the Federal Register.
In the mid-Atlantic area, the 10-knot speed borders will extend out to 20 nautical miles around major ports. NOAA’s Fisheries Service researchers report that approximately 83 percent of right whale sightings in the mid-Atlantic were within 20 nautical miles of shore. The rule also launches provisional intentional speed limits in other areas when an aggregation of three or more right whales is confirmed.
The rule is part of NOAA’s broader ship strike decline efforts. Existing protective actions comprise surveying whale movement routes by aircraft and compulsory ship reporting systems that offer advisories and information on right whale locations to mariners.
By: Rosierose
Article Source: http://articleaddict.com
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