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Speed restrictions around east coast ports to save endangered whales Speed restrictions around east coast ports to save endangered whalesWASHINGTON — After a two-year delay due to political wrangling, endangered North Atlantic right whales have some protection against death and injury from fast, large ships entering US east coast ports. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released regulations that require ships that are 65 feet in length and longer to slow down to 10 knots in locations where
"Requiring ships to slow down in areas where right whales are found is a critical step in saving the species from extinction. Saving even two whales a year could put them back on the road to recovery. But there is still so much more that must be done to ensure that our children will have the opportunity to see these whales alive in their natural environment, and not just in history books," said Vicki Cornish, vice president of marine wildlife conservation at Ocean Conservancy. "We need to continue funding scientists to observe and track these whales, and we need to make sure ships are complying with the speed restrictions. At the same time, we are working to reduce the amount of fishing line in the water on the east coast to make the ocean safer for right whales and other ocean wildlife." Since 2004, the year when NMFS first proposed slowing down ships, 11 right whale deaths and serious injuries due to vessel strikes have been documented. For a species that faces extinction with the loss of each whale, these numbers are devastating. Right whales migrate, feed and give birth to calves within sight of the urban east coast of the United States. Areas around the entrance to major ports will be covered by the regulations that were made official, but the protections in these areas could have a short lifespan. Ocean Conservancy is concerned that protections for endangered whales are set to go away after five years, unless proof can be obtained that whales are benefiting from slower speeds. Research conducted by scientists finds that slower speeds save whales. However, government funds for continuing research has been slashed dramatically in recent years, making it difficult to continue gathering the necessary information to gauge the effectiveness of speed restrictions. With US port shipping traffic expected to double by 2020, whales will be at even greater risk if regulations go away due to lack of reliable information. For a map of the areas where regulations are in effect, background, photos and graphics for media use, visit Ocean Conservancy's web site at www.oceanconservancy.org/rightwhales About Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy is the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, we inform, inspire and empower people to speak and act for the oceans. Ocean Conservancy is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in New England, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and California with support from more than half a million members and volunteers. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org. Ocean Conservancy recently launched a new North Atlantic right whale game for children, and also offers educational materials about the ocean and its wildlife online. The right whale game educates children about the animal and its environment by allowing them to navigate a right whale's underwater environment. The game and materials are available at www.oceanconservancy.org/rightwhales. A listing of east coast port mandatory ship speed restrictions are below. Northeast US Cape Cod Bay Off Race Point Great South Channel Mid-Atlantic US Six areas from New York to North Carolina, as defined below: Time: November 1 to April 30 Areas: 1) 30-nm (56-km)-wide rectangular area south and east of the mouth of Block Island Sound Ports of Wilmington, Georgetown, Charleston, and Savannah Time: November 1 to April 30 Southeast US Time: November 15 to April 15
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