Critically endangered Right Whales may be encountered in offshore and coastal waters of New York Harbor. Right whales are slow moving and at risk of serious injury or death due to collisions with vessels. U.S. law (50 CFR 224.105) prohibits operating vessels 65 feet (19.8 M) or greater in excess of 10 knots in specific managed locations along the U.S. East Coast during times when right whales are likely to be present. See the “Compliance Guide for Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Rule” for specific times, areas, and exceptions to this law.
Intentionally approaching within 500 yards of right whales is prohibited and is a violation of U.S. law. A minimum distance of 500 yards must be maintained from a sighted whale unless hazardous to the vessel or its occupants. NOAA recommends that operators assume that any whale sighted is a right whale. NOAA also recommends speeds of 10 knots or less in areas used by right whales and outside of seasonally managed areas when consistent with safety of navigation. The compliance guide is available at: (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/compliance_guide.pdf).
In the northeast, please report all right whale sightings to 978-585-8473 and all collisions to 978-281- 9351, telex #48156090 or to the Coast Guard via channel 16.
USCG
