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Protect America's Whale From Extinction

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Sponsor: The Rainforest Site

There are currently just 330 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the ocean. Help call for stronger protections!

There are currently just 330 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the ocean. Help call for stronger protections!

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released a new proposed vessel speed rule which aims to reduce the risk of vessel strikes to critically endangered North Atlantic right whales1. Many fear it may not be enough to save the species.

During the past two and a half years NOAA Fisheries has documented four lethal (death and serious injury) right whale vessel strike events in U.S. waters. These events are impeding the species' recovery and contributing to the population's decline2.

There are currently just 330 right whales remaining in the ocean3. Without stronger protections in place, these animals are facing extinction.

The whales spend most of their active hours hunting for food. At night, when the whales rest just beneath the ocean surface, they can all-to-easily become obstacles to vulnerable to fast-moving ships4.

The NMFS proposed changes would expand the rule to vessels greater than 35 feet in length (compared to the previous 65 feet), expand seasonal speed zones, and upgrade voluntary speed zones to mandatory in areas where whales are seen6.

Oceana's 2021 report, Speeding Toward Extinction indicates that most vessels, in some cases, up to 90%, did not comply with mandatory 10-knot slow zones. In voluntary slow zones, 50% to 85% of vessels did not slow down to 10-knots6.

Oceana and other conservation groups are now calling for even greater protections for North Atlantic right whales in the final vessel speed rule, including:

  • Expanded seasonal speed zones to cover any and all times and areas that North Atlantic right whales are expected to be present.
  • Requirement for all vessels in these zones to carry and continuously transmit Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices.
  • Requirement for federal vessels to follow the rule unless responding to national security or safety concerns.
  • Improved enforcement of speed limits.

NOAA Fisheries scientists first recognized the Gulf of Mexico whale as a unique species in 20217. It is the only great whale known to live entirely off the U.S. coast, earning from some researchers the nickname "America's whale." However appreciated, the whale is currently one of the most endangered species on earth.

Help us prevent this species from going extinct. Sign the petition and ask the Department of Commerce to strengthen safeguards for North Atlantic right whales by releasing a strong, final vessel strike rule.

More on this issue:

  1. NOAA Fisheries, (2022), "Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales."
  2. NOAA Fisheries, (29 July 2022), "Rule to Amend the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Regulations Open for Comment."
  3. NOAA Fisheries (2022), "North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2022."
  4. NRDC (11 May 2021), "Groups File Petition to Save the Gulf of Mexico Whale from Ship Strikes."
  5. Megan Jordan, Oceana (29 July 2022), "Oceana Applauds New Proposed Vessel Requirements to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales from Vessel Strikes."
  6. Oceana (July 2021), "Speeding Toward Extinction: Vessel Strikes Threaten North Atlantic Right Whales."
  7. Patricia E. Rosel, Lynsey A. Wilcox, Tadasu K. Yamada, Keith D. Mullin, Marine Mammal Science (10 January 2021), "A new species of baleen whale (Balaenoptera) from the Gulf of Mexico, with a review of its geographic distribution."
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The Petition:

To the United States Secretary of Commerce,

The National Marine Fisheries Service's recent proposed vessel speed rule to protect North Atlantic right whales will help reduce death and injury from vessel strike, but it is not strong enough to save the species from extinction.

With only around 330 North Atlantic right whales left in the ocean, this is one of the most endangered whales in the world. We need to ensure the safety of these whales now, or lose them forever.

Aside from vessel strike, the leading cause of North Atlantic right whale injury and death is entanglement in fishing gear. In fact, around 25% of the population becomes entangled in fishing gear from the U.S. and Canada at some point each year.

Public and government reports show that a vast majority of vessels do not comply with mandatory speed limits in North Atlantic right whale habitat. It is therefore urgent that you make the final vessel speed rule stronger with the following additions:

  • Expand seasonal speed zones to cover any and all times and areas that North Atlantic right whales are expected to be present.
  • Require all vessels in these zones to carry and continuously transmit Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices.
  • Require all federal vessels to follow the rule unless responding to national security or safety concerns.
  • Improve enforcement of speed limits.

As the head of the agency tasked with protecting endangered ocean wildlife and overseeing shipping and fishing, you have the power to help us divert the North Atlantic right whale from extinction to recovery.

I implore you to take action now and protect this species from extinction!

Sincerely,

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Signatures: