NOAA Questions Necessity of Ship Speed Limits for Endangered Right Whales

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is exploring whale detection technology as a possible substitute for enforced ship speed limits designed to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Since 2008, ships measuring 65 feet or more have been required to maintain speeds of 10 knots or less in designated seasonal management areas along the East Coast. A proposed expansion in 2022 was retracted in 2025. In March 2026, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service requested public feedback on modifying the regulation, emphasizing that speed reduction is “one of the ways” to mitigate strikes. With only about 380 North Atlantic right whales left, they face significant threats from vessel collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. The public comment period concluded on June 2, 2026, and any amendments will necessitate another comment phase.