Carter wins fight against NOAA’s jobs-killing speed restriction for Atlantic Coast

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) today successfully urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to rescind a proposed jobs-killing speed restriction for boats 35' to 65' along the Atlantic Coast.

The move comes after boaters, harbor pilots, and business owners raised concerns that the new safety regulations, nobly designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale from extinction, will pose safety risks for commercial vessels, threaten up to 340,000 American jobs, and negatively impact nearly $84 billion in economic contributions without providing any meaningful protections for the species.

"I am thrilled that NOAA made the right decision to protect harbor pilots, small business owners, and our coastal economy. This proposed rule was burdensome, overreaching, and would have caused irreparable harm to the Atlantic Coast without providing any environmental benefits. Tracking technologies exist that would help prevent right whale vessel strikes, and I hope to see those more broadly used in the coming years," said Rep. Carter.

In June 2023, Rep. Carter introduced a bipartisan bill that would have delayed funding for this proposed speed restriction until the Department of Commerce could fully implement new monitoring systems for North Atlantic right whales.

"The sportfishing industry is pleased to see the draconian vessel speed rule withdrawn so that we can find a collaborative, long-term solution that effectively mitigates the potential for vessel strikes and incorporates innovative safety technologies," said Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Sportfishing Association."We look forward to working with the Trump Administration, Congress, and other stakeholders to protect North Atlantic right whales, anglers, boaters and the $230 billion sportfishing industry. We also thank Rep. Carter for his continued leadership in advocating for policies that support the marine environment and all those who depend on it."


"On behalf of the recreational boating industry, we thank Congressman Carter (R-GA) for his leadership to protect coastal communities and American manufacturers from harm under the proposed NOAA rule and for ensuring the federal government leverages the latest technology to safeguard endangered marine mammals," said Frank Hugelmeyer, President and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the largest trade association in North America for the recreational boating industry.

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