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End of 2011-2012 Right Whale Migration and Calving Season Maritime Professionals: April 30, 2012 marked the end of the 2011-2012 right whale migration and calving season along the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast coasts of the United States (ie. Long Island and south). The Mid-Atlantic Seasonal Management Areas will remain closed until November 1, 2012 and the Southeast Seasonal Management Area and the WHALESSOUTH Mandatory Ship Reporting area will remain closed until November 15, 2012. Vessels can make full speed while transiting in these areas while the season is closed. In addition, vessels entering the WHALESSOUTH Mandatory Ship Reporting area are not required to send a message until the season reopens on November 15, 2012. While the 2011-2012 right whale migration and calving season has ended, vessels are requested to remain vigilant of right whales and immediately report any sightings to the Coast Guard via channel 16. We had a great season. While only six births were reported, there were no reported ship strikes. Thank you for your continued protection of these remarkable animals. The National Marine Fisheries Service has published an assessment of the Final Rule that established speed restrictions for vessels transiting areas where right whales are normally present during certain times of the year. The report focuses on four metrics established to determine the rule's effectiveness: Changes in ship strike death rates; Changes in vessels operations; Quantification of mariner outreach efforts; and Economic impacts on the maritime industry. Click here to view the report. At a minimum, I recommend marine interests read the Executive Summary and the section entitled "Conclusions and Recommendations" that starts on page 37. NOAA Updates Shipboard Right Whale Protection Guide
NOAA Protected Resources now has available an updated Shipboard Right
Whale Protection Program notebook that includes information on the
new speed rules and the recommended vessel lanes. There is
also an updated version of the Prudent Mariner CD available.
Contact Jim McLaughlin to request updated copies of these documents.
Manatee Update
Manatees are now active in the commercial port areas of the St. Johns
River. Information from the most recent aerial manatee survey
is available on our website.
Please click here for a
map of the most recent sightings.
Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout for manatees particularly during docking and undocking operations. Sighting information should be shared with other commercial mariners operating in the area. NOAA Releases Compliance Guide for Speed Rule
NOAA Fisheries has released
a
Compliance Guide for the Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Rule,
which summarizes the details of the rule and can be kept on the
bridge for quick reference. As you are aware, the rule implements
speed restrictions of 10 knots or less in areas and seasons along
the US East Coast where right whales are known to occur. The final
rule was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 10, 2008, and
will come into effect on December 9, 2008.
The compliance guide, along with the Federal Register notice and background documentation, is available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike. Laminated copies of the compliance guide are in production and will be available in the near future. In the meantime, we hope the electronic version will at least facilitate a better understanding of the new regulations and assist you in providing guidance to your crew and/or fleet.
NOAA Publishes Right Whale Ship Strike Final Rule
The final rule to implement the
Operational Measures of the North Atlantic Right Whale Ship Strike
Reduction Strategy went into effect in December 2008..
The final rule implements operational measures to reduce the occurrence and severity of vessel collisions with endangered North Atlantic right whales. Among other measures, the final rule requires vessels to travel at ten knots or less during the seasons whales are expected to be present, in designated areas along the East Coast. The rule will be up for renewal in five years, after NOAA's Fisheries Service assess its effectiveness. The
text of the
Final Rule along with the
NOAA Press Release
can be found on NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Protected Resources website at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/.
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Strategic Priority
The member companies of JMTX are dedicated to the protection of the marine
environment and living marine resources. Protection of the quality of
the environment as well as the protection of endangered marine mammals
are key goals of JMTX. In carrying out this policy, JMTX will:
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