Rhode Island

ATTENTION: Starting January 1, 2024, Right Whale Slow Zone notifications will no longer be sent to this listserv. To continue to receive updates to your inbox, please sign up for email or text notifications from NOAA Fisheries. <span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NOAA Fisheries announces a voluntary Right Whale Slow Zone (acoustic trigger). On November 17, 2023, the Coastal New Jersey Slocum glider operated by Rutgers University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution detected the presence of right whales 42 nm east of Atlantic City, NJ.  The Right Whale Slow Zone is in effect through December 2, 2023.  Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.

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As a reminder, four additional Slow Zones are also currently in effect. Locations and effective dates are listed below. 

VOLUNTARY Right Whale "Slow Zones" Areas Currently in Effect<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the following Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs) and Acoustic Slow Zone where right whales have been detected. Please visit www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike for more information.

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E Atlantic City, NJ Acoustic Slow Zone -- in effect through December 2, 2023<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 39 52 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 39 12 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">EASTERN BOUNDARY: 073 07 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WESTERN BOUNDARY: 073 59 W

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E Portland, ME #2 DMA Slow Zone -- in effect through December 1, 2023<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 43 40 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 43 02 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">EASTERN BOUNDARY: 068 10 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WESTERN BOUNDARY: 069 02 W

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Northern Outerbanks DMA Slow Zone -- in effect through November 30, 2023<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 36 33 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 35 53 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">EASTERN BOUNDARY: 075 20 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WESTERN BOUNDARY: 076 10 W

The Northern Outerbanks DMA does not apply to any inshore waters. <span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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E Portland, ME Acoustic Slow Zone -- in effect through November 28, 2023<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 43 44 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 43 05 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">EASTERN BOUNDARY: 068 10 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WESTERN BOUNDARY: 069 05 W

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NE Virginia Beach, VA Acoustic Slow Zone -- in effect through November 26, 2023<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">

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

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NORTHERN BOUNDARY: 37 29 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SOUTHERN BOUNDARY: 36 50 N

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">EASTERN BOUNDARY: 074 50 W

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WESTERN BOUNDARY: 075 40 W

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

<span-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect for vessels 65 feet or larger in the following areas:

Mid-Atlantic U.S. SMAs (Nov 1 - Apr 30)
Southeast U.S. SMAs (Nov 15 - Apr 15)

SPREAD THE WORD:

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.

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

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FOR RECENT RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

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ACOUSTIC DETECTIONS ALONG THE U.S. EAST COAST. 

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<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">

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DETAILS AND GRAPHICS OF ALL SHIP STRIKE MANAGEMENT ZONES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.

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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) 

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2022 PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE VESSEL SPEED RULE

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

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