In July 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed a new rule that will have a significant impact on any boat 35 feet and longer that goes offshore in the Atlantic, from Massachusetts to north Florida.

The proposed rule would significantly expand vessel speed restrictions in an attempt to protect North Atlantic Right Whales. Any boat 35 feet and longer would have to go less than 10 knots (11.5mph) for approximately half the year in an area covering Massachusetts to north Florida for dozens of miles offshore.

In most cases, trying to get offshore under such speed restrictions would leave little to no time for fishing, meaning trips simply will not happen.

To be clear, we recognize that the North Atlantic Right Whale population is in trouble, and we want to work with NOAA to protect right whales. However, the recreational fishing community and other stakeholders were given no opportunity to collaborate on solutions.

The odds of an individual vessel 35-65 feet striking a right whale in this area is less than one in a million. Given the extreme unlikeliness of these occurrences, and the significant impacts the proposed rule will have on anglers, boaters and coastal communities, a bill has been introduced in Congress to pause any changes to existing vessel speed restrictions until technological solutions are finalized that will allow for more dynamic and less onerous management.

If you would be negatively impacted by this rule, please ask Congress support the Protecting Whales, Human Safety, and the Economy Act! While we have provided a template message, we encourage you to personalize it with details on how the rule would specifically impact you.