NOAA Halts Vessel Speed Limits, Right Whales at Risk

[{"selector":"#anim-b3287719-dca8-4e30-b5a0-f4bd8946de5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0f2cfa3-559e-4597-910a-09fb2bb81476","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.08861%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84a25c25-5921-4616-9f89-1952a7824b10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee1f3663-8778-4685-85dd-731e56a9beba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-126.2136%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NOAA Halts Vessel Speed Limits, Right Whales at Risk Rahul Somvanshi

The NOAA withdraws proposal to expand vessel speed limits, the decision sheds light on the ongoing tussle between marine conservation efforts and economic interests.

[{"selector":"#anim-16c3c9a2-9e88-4160-992e-db7fc4d7886d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3f95ff0-a593-42b9-971a-5c40dd644ed4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b90b825-7ff1-485b-9ec2-91854411d390","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e61d057c-620f-46dc-b26d-54eb10ce6aa6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71260c31-37af-44d4-b632-f36e1e18b10b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Alan Jamieson (CC BY 2.0)

The NOAA attributed the overwhelming public response of about 90,000 as the primary reason behind this decision.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ce1aea8-ce06-426e-aa81-77cd954cbf81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9dc9ffc2-a4e8-411b-9e2b-59fb8cfbd66b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.82990%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a81c94f-dd13-4100-915d-ac55f4b2e66d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3f39144-821a-47fc-8131-bf15c20d4eb0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e16329f-a718-45bb-8490-a9eac408b1f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Bahnfrend (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The North Atlantic right whale is facing critical endangerment with the population decreasing to barely 380 individuals.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a1018bb-2e7e-457d-88a2-21338f0a52a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b00a744-7d6f-4bfd-9e96-7bc4f09131b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b02bf92-458e-4fe9-a24e-42628f1795d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcde9763-b16e-40e5-8dfd-1d261636bcba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8ec5037-a83f-40e9-8f0a-7496620d6dca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ryan Somma (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Gib Brogan, Oceana's Campaign Director, states that whereas he has been keeping a close eye on the proposed rule and its stagnation, he mentions he has also witnessed the negative effects of the insufficiency of the protection rights.

[{"selector":"#anim-ad810812-b4ff-4829-8bbf-2ec17ef0880b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-149c1d57-1d1c-4831-b975-9bb8d7dd4313","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.14097%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c9080b0-d246-41b8-941f-0436777e8897","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-894c61e5-e9a5-4c93-9113-12e47b4878e0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-045c2846-58e3-4f53-8fd1-b052de88aa4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Frank Hetmeyer welcomed the decision saying it's a huge step forward for American boat manufacturers, coastal economies and outdoor enthusiasts.

[{"selector":"#anim-972025ec-6e7e-4796-ae1a-dfd76173ac51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b06ef76-f5de-41fd-b0b0-35f7cc64b0d8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb35090b-1269-4ce9-8ca2-c68412deb88e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cbb2ba0-e57c-4587-bc97-85bca462a0f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-378f1b0e-c18c-4e01-8eb3-4966be6f5e93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Caribb CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Funds have been allocated by the Federal government for the improvement in whale tracking and speed enforcing technologies.

[{"selector":"#anim-83880773-99f7-4f29-9986-65d161b4abaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3872d9d8-56ad-4b07-9909-084222d31d91","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2aa2e91-1b25-47a8-aa46-1908b5d0f549","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-114ed6f0-e120-457a-adb2-ea9e92b6077b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.98032%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1afb1bc8-2aa2-4041-b8ca-30e9d4cae962","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The whales have been migrating away from their established protected region following their prey into different waters.

[{"selector":"#anim-1fbc7c24-60d9-482c-9573-807a9c18343e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ea5c368-7666-4a8d-be30-cd93d56af9ee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0090b54a-4a21-43ed-8e0e-e5a129298d16","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d943e1fa-34ba-480d-bd02-c69827c92a86","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5e8b2b9-28e3-4dcc-8bdc-a50fbbc16c8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 )

The withdrawal of the protective measure comes at a crucial time for the North Atlantic right whales. The population fell by more than 25% over the decade following 2010.

[{"selector":"#anim-f2013c03-0456-4b6b-a739-22cf5fc4c874","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89461c4e-f746-4ca6-ae3c-1862f19f3043","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.67903%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bcfa08d-53e5-4573-8183-f91a573d2867","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fde43a2-0ee7-457e-a4b5-559428534af4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6562cc7a-804b-44fe-a26b-a3f45c61dc6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The withdrawal still leaves with the challenges of balancing environmental protection and maritime industry.

[{"selector":"#anim-937d08f1-ac28-49b3-b932-a6529f03a3da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01e64df9-982b-4a58-98bb-ba5f4f5672dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0d90a79-c3ef-406b-8936-c775bb212e87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2af9c92d-35ce-4887-8d6a-8e2a71306198","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6931438a-bec6-4d93-b043-60d2b52f5f67","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Robert Linsdell (CC BY 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-18b0350a-7d3b-4d05-8669-864289320d8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a33e51c-d72c-4802-899b-fcc86ce6a4b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdf6e40f-8a69-4467-988a-94880adc29ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e589dcd-4038-4394-90ef-06a28d6bc7b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94bcb328-f289-4a45-aa06-6360ab0a35e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 75 Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Spotted Off Maine Coast Learn more