Ocean Conservancy Welcomes First-Ever Ship Speed Restrictions around East Coast Ports to Save...

¶ Ocean Conservancy Supports Long-Awaited Step in Slowing Down Large Ships to Help Protect Endangered Whale from Vessel Strikes; Regulations Set to End in Five Years WASHINGTON — After a two-year delay due to political wrangling in the Bush administration, endangered North Atlantic right whales have some protection against death and injury from fast, large ships entering US east coast ports. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released regulations that require ships that are 65 feet in length and longer to slow down to 10 knots in locations where right whales migrate and gather to feed and give birth. This is an important step in saving the species from vessel strikes, which is the biggest threat to these slow moving whales. However, the regulations are set to end after five years, unless NMFS can prove that the rule... [read full story]