Extreme Vessel Speed Reduction Rule Withdrawn

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) celebrates the January 15, 2025, announcement of NOAA’s withdrawal of its extreme vessel speed reduction rule aimed at protecting the endangered North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW). While the species has faced threats since its near extinction in the 1890s and has been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since […]

Update on Speed Restricted Zones

Speed Reduction Zones – TBF opposes the two recently issued proposals by NMFS and NOAA to apply extreme vessel speed reductions (10.5 mph) along the East Coast to all vessels 35 feet and longer when transiting Slowdown Zones. The goal of the first proposal aims to reduce vessel strikes of whales, yet documentation of whale strikes by vessels of 35 to 64 feet was not even included in the proposal. The Northern Right Whale has been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1970, yet populations continue to decline. Failure by large container vessels (25% compliance) to comply