Strategy to Reduce Ship Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales
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Shift of the Boston Traffic Separation Scheme
On July 1, 2007, NOAA and the USCG implemented a shift in the Traffic Separation Scheme servicing Boston to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with right whales and other whale species. The realignment is expected to result in a 58% reduction in the risk of ship strikes to right whales, and an 81% risk reduction in ship strikes of other large whale species occurring in the area. The U.S. government submitted a proposal to the International Maritime Organization to modify the shipping lanes in April 2006, which was approved in December 2006.
- Press Release [pdf]
- Proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Shifting the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) into Boston [pdf]
- U.S. Coast Guard Port Access Route Study (PARS) [pdf]
- The Boston TSS is charted on NOAA Print-on-Demand Charts and NOAA Raster Navigational Charts.
- Federal Register Notice of Port Access Route Study (PARS) of area south and east of Cape Cod Bay [pdf]
(Published 11/19/2007; 72 FR 64968)
NOAA, USCG Provide Commercial Mariners with Free Interactive Guide to Right Whale Protection
- Press Release [pdf]
Recommended Shipping Routes
In November 2006, NOAA established a set of recommended vessel routes in four locations to reduce the likelihood of ship collisions in key right whale habitats.
Proposed Rule
- Federal Register Notice [pdf]
(Published 6/26/2006, 71 FR 36299)- Public Comment Period Extended Through October 5, 2006 [pdf]
(Published 8/14/2006, 71 FR 46440)
- Public Comment Period Extended Through October 5, 2006 [pdf]
- Press Release [pdf]
- Summary of the Rule [pdf]
- Fact Sheet [pdf]
- Public comments received [pdf] [36.0 MB] are available. The public comment period for the Proposed Rule closed on October 5, 2006.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement [pdf] [28.5 MB]
- The DEIS is also available for download by chapter.
- Economic Analysis [pdf] [3.2 MB]
- Appendices to the Economic Analysis [pdf] [3.6 MB]
- Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Strategy Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (6/22/05) [pdf] [66 KB]
- Federal Register Notice of Availability [pdf]
(Published 7/7/2006, 71 FR 38640)- Revised Federal Register Notice of Availability [pdf]
(Published 7/14/2006, 71 FR 36299) - Public Comment Period Extended Through October 5, 2006 [pdf]
(Published 8/18/2006, 71 FR 47808)
- Revised Federal Register Notice of Availability [pdf]
- Federal Register Notice of Public Hearings [pdf]
(Published 7/17/2006, 71 FR 40482) - DEIS Public Hearing Transcripts
- Jacksonville, FL Transcript [pdf] (8/8/2006)
- Baltimore, MD Transcript [pdf] (8/10/2006)
- Boston, MA Transcript [pdf] (8/14/2006)
- Washington, DC Transcript* [pdf] (8/22/2006)
(*hearing for American Association of Port Authorities)
- Public comments received [pdf] [11.9 MB] are available. The public comment period for the DEIS closed on October 5, 2006.
Additional Supporting Documents
- U.S. Activities to Reduce the Threat of Ship Collisions (June 06 IWC) [pdf] [248 KB]
- Large Whale Ship Strike Database [pdf] [3.3 MB]
Jensen, A.S. and G.K. Silber. 2003. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-OPR-25. - Characterization of Ship Traffic in Right Whale Critical Habitat [pdf] [588 KB]
- Simple analyses of ship and large whale collisions: Does speed kill? [pdf] [101 KB]
- Applying a Spatial Model to Evaluate the Risk of Interactions Between Vessels and Right Whales in the Southeast U.S. Critical Habitat [pdf] [4.4 MB] Dr. Lance P. Garrison, 2005.
