Rhode Island

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Good afternoon,

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NOAA Fisheries announces the extension of a voluntary right whale Slow Zone (acoustic trigger). On March 16, 2023, the New York Bight SE buoy
operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution redetected the presence of right whales 34 nm southeast of New York City, NY. The right wh<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">ale Slow Zone is in effect through March 31, 2023. Mariners are requested to route around the areas or transit through the areas <span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">at 10 knots or less. 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">As a reminder, five additional Slow Zones are also currently in effect. Locations and effective dates of all zones are listed below. 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">VOLUNTARY RIGHT WHALE "Slow Zone" AREAS

Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the following Acoustic Slow Zones and Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs) where right whales have been detected. Please visit the NOAA Fisheries website for more information.

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Southeast of New York City, NY Acoustic Slow Zone -- in effect through March 31, 2023

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Waters bounded by:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 40 41 N
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 40 01 N
EASTERN BOUNDARY: 073 03 W
WESTERN BOUNDARY: 073 55 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Southeast of Atlantic City, NJ Acoustic Slow Zone -- in effect through March 28, 2023

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Waters bounded by:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 39 25 N
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 38 46 N
EASTERN BOUNDARY: 073 36 W
WESTERN BOUNDARY: 074 28 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Southeast of Nantucket, MA DMA Slow Zone -- in effect through March 25, 2023

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Waters bounded by:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 40 52 N
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 40 16 N
EASTERN BOUNDARY: 069 04 W
WESTERN BOUNDARY: 069 52 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">South of Martha's Vineyard, MA DMA Slow Zone -- in effect through March 25, 2023

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Waters bounded by:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 41 34 N
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 40 49 N
EASTERN BOUNDARY: 069 59 W
WESTERN BOUNDARY: 071 03 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">South of Nantucket, MA DMA Slow Zone -- in effect through March 25, 2023

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Waters bounded by:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 41 04 N
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 40 20 N
EASTERN BOUNDARY: 069 28 W
WESTERN BOUNDARY: 070 26 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">East of Ocean City, MD Acoustic Slow Zone -- in effect through March 22, 2023

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Waters bounded by:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 38 38 N
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 37 58 N
EASTERN BOUNDARY: 074 13 W
WESTERN BOUNDARY: 075 04 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">ACTIVE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS (SMAs)

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Cape Cod Bay SMA 

NOTE: MA state law requires vessels less than 65 feet to travel 10 knots or less in the Cape Cod Bay SMA from March 1 to April 30.

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mid-Atlantic U.S SMAs 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Southeast U.S. SMAs

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SPREAD THE WORD:

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">All boaters from Maine to Virginia, or interested parties, can sign up for email or text notifications about the latest Right Whale Slow Zones. You can also follow us on Facebook (@NOAAFisheriesNEMA) and Twitter (@NOAAFish_GARFO) for announcements.

 

DOWNLOAD THE WHALE ALERT APP FOR iPAD, iPHONE, AND ANDROID FOR REAL-TIME UPDATES. 

 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">FOR RECENT RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

 

ACOUSTIC DETECTIONS ALONG THE U.S. EAST COAST. 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">FOR AN AUTOMATIC RETURN EMAIL LISTING ALL CURRENT U.S. DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT AREAS AND SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS, PLEASE SEND A BLANK MESSAGE TO: NMFS.GAR.Rightwhale@noaa.gov

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">DETAILS AND GRAPHICS OF ALL SHIP STRIKE MANAGEMENT ZONES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> 

APPROACHING A RIGHT WHALE CLOSER THAN 500 YARDS IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. PLEASE REPORT ALL RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS TO:  866-755-NOAA (6622) 

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Have a great day!

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