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Eco lobby chides feds for speeding vessels killing whales
来源：shippingazette 编辑：编辑部 发布：2023/03/21 10:06:29
US ECO-LOBBY Oceana is now accusing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of failing to protect North Atlantic right whales ship collisions, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.
"Oceana sounded the alarm for months, calling on NOAA to protect these critically endangered whales from boat strikes as they traversed the east coast during calving season.
"I wish we could say that the death of this North Atlantic right whale was a rarity and a fluke, but we predicted this would happen and it did - on NOAA's watch," said Oceana campaign director Gib Brogan.
The 20-year-old male North Atlantic right whale was found dead on Virginia Beach on February 12, caused by blunt-force trauma consistent with a vessel strike.
North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970. Estimates suggest there are some 350 remaining, with fewer than 70 breeding females.
Washington, DC-based Oceana used a tool called Ship Speed Watch, which found that 158 of 200 vessels travelled through NOAA-established slow zones from February 1- 11 and exceeded the 10-knot speed limit.
That's nearly 70 per cent. Half of the vessels of the 106 surveyed were found to be speeding, said Oceana.
"Oceana sounded the alarm for months, calling on NOAA to protect these critically endangered whales from boat strikes as they traversed the east coast during calving season.
"I wish we could say that the death of this North Atlantic right whale was a rarity and a fluke, but we predicted this would happen and it did - on NOAA's watch," said Oceana campaign director Gib Brogan.
The 20-year-old male North Atlantic right whale was found dead on Virginia Beach on February 12, caused by blunt-force trauma consistent with a vessel strike.
North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970. Estimates suggest there are some 350 remaining, with fewer than 70 breeding females.
Washington, DC-based Oceana used a tool called Ship Speed Watch, which found that 158 of 200 vessels travelled through NOAA-established slow zones from February 1- 11 and exceeded the 10-knot speed limit.
That's nearly 70 per cent. Half of the vessels of the 106 surveyed were found to be speeding, said Oceana.