Right Whale Sighting Advisory System

Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs) and
Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs)
in Effect off New England:

Right Whale Sightings Map
February 01, 2010
(Click map for larger version)

Mariners are urged to use caution and proceed at safe speeds in areas where right whales occur.  U.S. Law (50CF 224.105) prohibits operating vessels 65 feet (19.8 meters) or greater in excess of 10 knots in Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) along the U.S. east coast.  Mariners are also requested to route around voluntary speed restriction zones (Dynamic Management Areas—DMAs) or transit through them at 10 knots or less.  Approaching right whales closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal and state law.  Please report all right whale sightings to 978-585-8473 or to the U.S. Coast Guard via channel 16.  For more information about ship strike reduction regulations, please visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike

right whale spouting

 

Human activities--principally ship strikes and fishery gear entanglements--account for approximately one third of all known Western North Atlantic right whale mortalities.  In an effort to reduce ship collisions with this critically endangered species, the Right Whale Sighting Advisory System (SAS) was developed in late 1996.

The System provides right whale sighting information to commercial shipping and other marine traffic.  The SAS receives right whale sighting reports from a variety of sources including dedicated right whale aerial and shipboard surveys conducted by several organizations.  Sightings reported by the general public are verified by staff at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) prior to issuing an advisory.

right whale lineartright whale lineartright whale lineart

Mariners are alerted to areas of right whale activity through Coast Guard and NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, the Mandatory Ship Reporting System, email and this website.  New ship strike reduction regulations implemented in December 2008 have changed the form and content of the advisories.  Areas of right whale activity are now bounded by Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs), or when outside of SMAs, Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs).  The size and shape of these areas are based on analyses of right whale sighting data by researchers at the NEFSC

picture of 2 right whales We continue to collect sighting reports from all sources, and aerial surveys are conducted off the northeast US coast year round by the Protected Species Branch (link).  In addition, automated acoustic buoys monitor for the presence of right whales in the Boston shipping lanes throughout the year.  Please see the links on the sidebar for more details.

For additional information on the NE Right Whale Sighting Advisory System,
please contact: ne.rw.sightings@noaa.gov

The Right whale sighting advisory system is part of the NEFSC Protected Species Branch

right whale lineart

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