Tell Congress to Urge the Administration to Withdraw the Harmful Vessel Speed Restriction Rule

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed expanding its North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule to limit the speed of recreational boats 35 ft. and greater to 10 knots (11 mph) in areas up to 90 miles offshore for a good portion of the year. This would severely limit access to the Atlantic Ocean in the fall, winter and spring, putting lives at risk, as small boats cannot safely travel at these slow speeds in the open ocean. The rule was developed without any input from the recreational boating industry, which supports 812,000 jobs and 36,000 small businesses. The rule ignores existing and emerging technologies that could be deployed to reduce vessel strike risk and save marine mammals.

Make your voice heard – tell your members of Congress to write the Biden administration and urge them to withdraw this harmful rule. Instead of a blanket speed restriction, NOAA must engage with the industry to develop and implement balanced, technology-focused solutions to protect both marine life and the boating economy.