STOP UNNECESSARY BOAT SPEED RESTRICTIONS IN GULF OF MEXICO

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is considering boating speed restrictions in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that would effectively shut down a massive area of the ocean to all boating.

Petitioners have requested that NOAA create a “Vessel Slowdown Zone” with a mandatory 11 mph speed limit for all vessels. The petition is intended to help protect the Rice’s whale, however, there has never been a documented case of a recreational vessel striking a Rice’s whale. The petition also proposes the following additional restrictions on boaters:

– No vessel transits at night;

– Vessels transiting through the zone must report their plans to NOAA, utilize trained visual observers, and maintain a separation distance of 500 m from Rice’s whales;

– Use and operate an Automatic Identification System, or notify NOAA of transits through the zone, and

– Report all non-compliance to NOAA within 24 hours.

Click the TAKE ACTION button below and tell NOAA to reject this ill-advised petition and instead work with the recreational boating and fishing community on alternative approaches to conserve Rice’s whales while maintaining safe boating access.
 

TAKE ACTION

Source: https://floridasportfishing.com/stop-unnecessary-boat-speed-restrictions-in-gulf-of-mexico/