Seasonal Speed Limits to Protect Migrating Right Whales Now Active

It’s that time of year again! Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are shifting with the seasons, with many adult females migrating to the species’ only calving grounds in the Southeast U.S. They use the coastline to guide their way, increasing the overlap with vessel activity and therefore the risk of vessel strikes.

Female North Atlantic right whale Accordion (#4150), a vessel strike survivor, and her first-ever calf seen just outside New York Harbor within busy shipping lanes in February 2025. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Alison Ogilvie

Per federal law, all vessels 65 feet or longer MUST travel at 10 knots or less within Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) from November 1 through April 30. Traveling at a speed of 10 knots or less is also encouraged for vessels of all sizes within and between SMAs. Let’s help these soon-to-be mamas get to the calving grounds safely!

Please help spread the word!

• All boaters and other interested parties from Maine to Virginia can sign up for email or text notifications about the latest Right Whale Slow Zones.
• Download the Whale Alert app for iPad, iPhone, and Android for real time updates on Slow Zones, SMAs, and other right whale sightings.
• Watch and share the NOAA Fisheries video on Slow Zones or visit the Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales