New right whale Slow Zone announced

28 Jan 2021 / Boston, United States

NOAA Fisheries have announced a new voluntary right whale Slow Zone vessel speed restriction after the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Stellwagen Bank Slocum buoy acoustically detected the presence of right whales 35nm E of Boston, MA on 25 January.

The Boston, MA Slow Zone is in effect through February 9, 2021.

It joins the following voluntary Slow Zone where mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the following areas where persistent aggregations of right whales have been sighted.

E of Boston, MA Slow Zone -- in effect through February 9, 2021
42 47 N
42 07 N
069 51 W
070 46 W

SE of Atlantic City, NJ Slow Zone -- in effect through February 3, 2021
39 25 N
38 44 N
073 44 W
074 36 W

SE of Nantucket Isl. MA Slow Zone -- in effect through January 30, 2021
41 25 N
40 44 N
069 28 W
070 21 W

SE of New York City, NY Slow Zone -- in effect through January 30, 2021
40 41 N
40 01 N
073 03 W
073 55 W

E of Atlantic City, NJ Slow Zone -- in effect through January 29, 2021
39 47 N
39 07 N
073 31 W
074 22 W

E of Virginia Beach, VA Slow Zone -- in effect through January 28, 2021
37 09 N
36 29 N
075 02 W
075 52 W

Learn more at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike.

For recent right whale sightings, visit www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/surveys/.

For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at [email protected]

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