The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an alert regarding the right whale Dynamic Management Area (DMA) off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States, after three whales were spotted in this area.
A voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area – DMA) has been set 54 nautical miles east-southeast of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to protect an assemblage of three right whales sighted in this area on January 26, 2018. This DMA is in effect since 10 February 2018. Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
Furthermore, another voluntary vessel speed restriction zone has been set 86 nautical miles east-southeast of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to protect an aggregation of 4 right whales sighted in this area on January 23, 2018. This DMA is in effect since February 7 2018, and mariners are again requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
In addition, NOAA Fisheries announced a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone 30 nautical miles south of Nantucket, MA to protect an aggregation of 22 right whales sighted on 23 January 2018. This DMA is in effect since 05 February 2018, with mariners having to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
Other areas as well have mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less, and are the following:
- Cape Cod Bay, SMA, in effect through 15 May 2018
- Block Island, SMA, in effect through 30 April 2018
- New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk, SMA, in effect through 30 April 2018
For more information click the following PDF