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Meanwhile, a temporary “slow zone” has been created around Martha’s Vineyard along with parts of the East Coast in an effort to reduce the risk of endangered right whales being hit by ships, boats, and other vessels.
The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered large whale species on the planet - there are only about 400 of them left and fewer than 100 are breeding females, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) said.
Since 2017, 10 percent of the right whale population has died or been seriously injured.
Modifications to existing legislation - Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan - were proposed by the NOAA in late-December. The changes are meant to stop right whales from becoming entangled in fishing gear - one of two leading causes of right whale serious injury and death, NOAA said. Buoys that mark lobster and crab pots/traps are particularly dangerous to right whales and are the target of the modifications.
If approved, the modifications would likely cost $7 million to $15 million in labor and materials to implement in the first year, NOAA estimated. The financial burden of these modifications may be born entirely by lobster and crab trappers. Added expenses and fees for fishermen typically translate into higher seafood prices.
In 2019, a deal between the NOAA and the Maine Lobstermen's Association to protect right whales fell apart.
Comments on this proposal must be made to the NOAA by March 1 for consideration. Public hearings will begin in February.
If approved, the proposal would likely affect 2,500 lobster trap/pot vessels.
But for now, the right whale "slow zone" will be in place in the Martha’s Vineyard area through Jan. 14-15.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries put the "slow zone" plan into place to “reduce the likelihood of deaths and serious injuries” to the whales as a result of colliding with a vessel.
The slow zone program notifies vessel operators of areas where maintaining speeds of 10 knots or less can greatly improve the chances of survival for right whales.
A slow zone is established when a right whale is spotted or heard in the area.
In addition to slower speeds, the travel routes for ships outside of Boston were narrowed from 2 miles to 1.5 miles to reduce collisions.
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