HELP PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES FROM SPEEDING BOATS

North Atlantic right whales are washing up dead along the East Coast of the United States from gruesome boat strikes. Meanwhile, for two years, the Biden administration has been considering essential protections from collisions with boats. North Atlantic right whales are running out of time.

North Atlantic right whales are in steep decline and on the verge of extinction. There are only around 356 left. At least 21 whales have been struck by boats since 2017 and already three since January. At this rate, North Atlantic right whales could be the first large whale species to go extinct in the Atlantic Ocean in centuries.

Tell President Biden to issue the pending rule that would require boats to slow down for the whales.

Almost all of these “slow zones” would not impact U.S. boaters between Memorial Day and Labor Day – the most popular boating months – as most of the whales are in Canada during that time of year.

Tell President Biden: we can’t wait any longer to protect North Atlantic right whales. We need him to release the needed protections today.

petition letter

Dear President Biden,

North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world, with only around 356 individuals left. Federal experts and scientists at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have proposed new rules to protect North Atlantic right whales from collisions with boats. These important safeguards are in front of you in the White House and I am asking you to approve these updates to whale protections immediately.

Expansions of NOAA safeguards to reduce the risk of vessels hitting whales are vital to the future of this species and further delay spells extinction for this entire species. More delays are unacceptable.

North Atlantic right whales are in dire peril. If as few as one whale per year dies from human causes, the species will not be able to recover. Collisions with boats are one of the two leading causes of injury and death for the species. Since 2017, at least 13 whales have been struck by boats in U.S. waters including three just this year.  In March of this year, whale #1950 was killed by a boat strike off the Virginia coast with all of the vertebrae in its lower back fractured.

The most effective way to stop boats from hitting North Atlantic right whales is by slowing them down in areas and seasons where these whales swim — exactly what NOAA proposed in 2022.

NOAA’s proposed rule requires both seasonal and pop-up speed limits for vessels and uses sound science to determine when whales are expected to pass through each area. Almost all of these “slow zones” (except a smaller zone near Nantucket and Georges Bank that runs through the end of June) would not impact U.S. boaters between Memorial Day and Labor Day – the most popular boating months – as most of the whales are in Canada during that time of year. These temporary slowdowns for boaters are only applicable a few months a year and will have no effect on boats under 35 feet in length.

These improvements to existing rules will be key to reducing whale deaths and preventing the rapid extinction of this species.

That’s why I am standing with Oceana to call on you to prevent the extinction of this species. Please save the iconic North Atlantic right whale and approve NOAA’s proposed updates without delay.

The survival of this species depends on effective federal whale protections.

Sincerely,  

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