Slow down for right whales along the North American East Coast

Masters and crews operating along the US/Canadian East Coast must maintain a good lookout for North Atlantic right whales and follow the speed restrictions in force at any given time.
 

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered species of large whale. It was hunted to the brink of extinction by commercial whalers by the early 1890s and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that less than 400 right whales remain. The North Atlantic right whale is found almost exclusively along the East Coast of Canada and the US. Each autumn some right whales travel more than 1,500 km from their feeding grounds off Canada and New England to their calving areas in the warm coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and north-eastern Florida. Unfortunately, its habitat and migration routes are located close to major ports and often overlap with shipping lanes, making the whales vulnerable to collisions with vessels.
 

So - although the days of whaling are long gone - human interactions still represent the greatest danger to the North Atlantic Right whale. This has prompted both Canada and the US to implement various measures to prevent vessel strikes during periods when North Atlantic right whales are likely to be present.
 

Canadian requirements
 

Transport Canada (TC) has now announced the vessel traffic management measures that will be enforced in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the 2023 whale season, which this year extends from 19 April to 15 November. The following restrictions apply to all vessels more than 13 m in overall length (OAL):
 

·In the Northern and Southern Static Zones, shown in pink in the map below, a fixed mandatory speed restriction of maximum 10 knots is in force during the entire whale season.

·In the Dynamic Shipping Zones A to E, shown in green in the map below, a temporary mandatory speed restriction of maximum 10 knots will enter into force when a right whale is spotted near or in the shipping lanes. This temporary mandatory speed restriction will initially be in force for 15 days but may be extended depending on the presence of whales.

·In the Seasonal Management Areas north and south of the Dynamic Shipping Zone E, shown in dark pink in the map below, a fixed mandatory speed restriction of maximum 10 knots is in force from 19 April to 27 June. From 28 June to 15 November, a temporary mandatory speed restriction of 10 knots will enter into force if a right whale is spotted in the area and will remain in force for at least 15 days.

·A Restricted Area near the Shediac Valley, shown in dark blue in the map below, has been established as larger numbers of North Atlantic right whales normally gathers for feeding and surface activity in this area during the summer months. Vessels more than 13 m in OAL are prohibited from entering the restricted area unless they are on the list of exempted vessels. Exempted vessels, which typically include fishing vessels, governmental vessels, research vessels, vessels in distress, etc. cannot exceed 8 knots when transiting the restricted area. As implementation of the zone restrictions depends on the seasonal fishing activity in the area, TC will communicate the exact timing of this zone to mariners through a navigational warning once decided.

·A Voluntary Seasonal Slowdown Zone, shown in grey in the map below, has been established and spans from the Cabot Strait to the eastern edge of Dynamic Shipping Zone E. To coincide with the North Atlantic right whales’ migration in and out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a voluntary speed restriction of maximum 10 knots is force in this zone during the periods 19 April to 27 June and 27 September to 15 November.