Booker, Pallone, Blumenthal Lead 42 Members in Urging NOAA to Preserve Right Whale Protections While Expanding New Technologies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) led 42 of their colleagues in urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain existing vessel speed protections for North Atlantic right whales while continuing to develop and deploy new technologies that can help reduce vessel strike risk.

"We appreciate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) ongoing efforts to prioritize developing additional tools to reduce vessel strike risk, including exploring emerging communication, monitoring, and detection technologies, as outlined in the recent Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We support continued investment in and testing of these innovative technologies, including public-private partnerships such as cooperative research. Expanding real-time awareness of marine mammals and navigation hazards, improving data integration, and strengthening compliance tools will be important components of a comprehensive, modern approach "to protecting North Atlantic right whales and improving mariner safety at sea," wrote the members.

Their letter comes as NOAA seeks public comment on potential changes to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule, including whether technology-based strike avoidance measures could supplement or replace existing seasonal speed restrictions.

Read the full text of the letter here.