Massachusetts Lifts Cape Cod Bay Speed Limits

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

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has lifted the small boat speed limit in Cape Cod Bay that was put in place to protect migrating right whales this spring.

Officials said boaters with vessels less than 65 feet can operate at speeds greater than 10 knots effective as of Wednesday, May 14.

In April, Massachusetts officials instituted the boat speed limit, restricting boats less than 65 feet to travel at speeds no greater than 10 knots in the designated area to protect right whales in Cape Cod Bay. A complementary federal speed restriction in the same area applied to vessels 65 feet and greater.

Officials said right whales are highly susceptible to injury and death due to boat collisions.

Recent aerial and acoustic monitoring efforts indicated that right whales are no longer present in Massachusetts waters.

An aerial survey flight on May 13 observed no right whales in Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay, and there were no right whale acoustic detections on Cape Cod Bay or Cape Ann near real-time buoys for several days.

Officials said this follows a typical pattern of right whales departing from Massachusetts coastal waters within the first two weeks of May.