Seasonal Management Areas and Speed Restrictions In Effect

All maritime interests are reminded that the right whale migration and calving season has begun along the Atlantic seaboard.  The Mid-Atlantic Seasonal Management Areas and the associated speed restrictions of 10 kts became effective for Mid-Atlantic coast ports from Long Island Sound to Savannah on November 1, 2009 and will remain in place through April 30, 2010. 

 The Southeast U.S. Seasonal Management Area which includes the ports of Brunswick, Fernandina and Jacksonville, becomes effective on Sunday, November 15, 2009 and remains in place through April 15, 2010. 

Specific dimensions for the Seasonal Management Area and the applicable rules are available on NOAA Fisheries Service Complinace Guide along with additional important information from NOAA at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/

 Mandatory Ship Reporting in WHALESSOUTH In Effect

In addition to the speed restrictions, vessels of 300 GT or greater operating into the ports of  Brunswick, Fernandina and Jacksonville  must also comply with the Mandatory Ship Reporting System rules.  This requirement also starts up on November 15th.

Use of Recommended Two-Way Traffic Routes

Mariners are also strongly encouraged to utilize the recommended two-way routes to reduce the likelihood of vessel strikes in those areas where routes have been established in Cape Cod Bay and in the Southeast Seasonal Management Area off Brunswick, Fernandina and Jacksonville.

 Survey Sighting Distribution System

We will soon be updating our right whale sighting distribution information to report right whale sightings to mariners via email.  Right whale sightings from survey aircraft are distributed to critical maritime interests by port region.  To protect whales from curious boaters, these sighting alerts are not available to the public.  However, if you have direct vessel management/navigational responsibilities we can include your office, dispatch center or vessel on the sighting distribution. 

To subscribe to the sighting distribution please provide us with the following information:

Your Name

Your Company

Your contact info: phone/email

E-Mail address for sightings:  (may be multiple)

Port regions: (Jacksonville/Fernandina, Brunswick, Savannah,Charleston, Wilmington)

Shipboard Right Whale Protection Program Notebooks Available

In addition to the web based information above, NOAA Fisheries Service has prepared "Shipboard Right Whale Protection Program" loose-leaf notebook that includes general guidelines for vessels operating where right whales may be present and includes the latest version of the "Prudent Mariner's Guide to Right Whale Protection" CD.  Copies of these notebooks are available at the Maritime Associations in Savannah and Charleston, the Marine Exchange in Jacksonville, and at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Wilmington, NC.  If you need additional information about the availability of the program notebooks, feel free to contact Don Lewis, at dlewis@jmtx.org.

The successful recovery of the north atlantic right whale is dependent on the continued support and vigilance  of the commercial maritime community.  Thank you for your continued protection of these remarkable animals.

Capt. Don Lewis
Right Whale/Shipping Industry Liaison
National Marine Fisheries Service (SE)
Phone  (904) 634-1599
Mobile  (904) 233-8627
dlewis@jmtx.org

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 Don Lewis to request updated copies of these documents.

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.  Click here for a map of these 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 Fisheries has just 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.

 

The final rule to implement the Operational Measures of the North Atlantic Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Strategy has been approved and will publish in the Federal Register on Friday October 10, 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.

It will be up for renewal in five years, after NOAA's Fisheries Service assess its effectiveness.

The rule will go into effect in early December, 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

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/.