Tuesday July 30, 2024
SeafoodSource —
U.S. lawmakers in Congress are trying to stop NOAA Fisheries’ expanded vessel speed rules from going into effect, with 54 legislators signing a letter asking the federal government to reopen the rule for further input and review.
“We share the objective of preventing vessel strikes and protecting critically endangered marine mammals like the North Atlantic right whale,” the lawmakers wrote in the joint letter. “However, we believe that there are better strategies to accomplish this goal while safeguarding the multiple uses of our ocean resources.”
The current rule, which has been in place since 2008, requires vessels over 65 feet in length to limit speeds to 10 knots or lower when traveling through North Atlantic right whale seasonal management areas. However, in 2022, NOAA Fisheries proposed expanding the rules to better protect right whales. The new rule would apply to all vessels 35 feet in length.