Right Whale Slow Zone Established Near Nantucket

Two North Atlantic right whales photographed by the NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Center aerial survey team in May 2016. Tim Cole/NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC

If you’re planning to head offshore this week, keep an eye on where you’re boating.

NOAA has established a voluntary Right Whale Slow Zone southwest of Nantucket after endangered North Atlantic right whales were detected in the area by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution‘s Martha’s Vineyard acoustic buoy.

Boaters traveling through the zone are being asked to either avoid the area if possible or reduce their speed to 10 knots or less through July 13. Slowing down gives captains more time to spot whales and helps reduce the risk of vessel strikes, one of the leading causes of injury and death for these critically endangered animals.

The waters around Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are important feeding and migration areas for North Atlantic right whales. Scientists continue to monitor whale activity throughout the season using acoustic buoys, aerial surveys and vessel reports.

With fewer than 380 North Atlantic right whales believed to remain in the wild, every effort to protect them makes a difference. Whether you’re fishing, cruising or heading offshore, slowing down in areas where whales have been detected helps keep both wildlife and boaters safe.