US Government Seeks Info On North Atlantic Right Whale Speed Restrictions

The US government is seeking public input on whether ship operators are willing and able to comply with speed restrictions aimed at protecting North Atlantic Right Whales.

According to the September 21st, 2021 notice:

“This revision to the current information collection includes a voluntary survey effort of vessel operators to evaluate their ability and willingness to: (1) Comply with North Atlantic right whale mandatory speed restrictions, and (2) cooperate with voluntary speed reduction efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales, which are promoted through outreach efforts. We will collect information from two types of vessels (pleasure yachts and large ocean going vessel) in two different areas of the North Atlantic right whales’ range using voluntary online surveys and small focus groups. The surveys will collect information about vessel operators time spent on the water, experience and knowledge about large whales, knowledge of North Atlantic vessel strike reduction efforts, opinions about these whales and conservation efforts, and their preferred means of receiving information. Results from this information collection will be used to develop effective outreach to these vessel communities, with the long-term goal of improving the communities’ compliance with mandatory measures and cooperation with voluntary measures that support North Atlantic right whale vessel strike reduction conservation efforts.”

Written comments and recommendations should be submitted within 30 days of the notice’s publication, and can be sent to www.reginfo.gov.

Check out the full notice here.