NOAA's Proposed Speed Rule Poses Risks to Coastal Businesses and Boaters
by National Marine Manufacturers Association 31 May 2023 11:26 PDT
NOAA's Proposed Speed Rule Poses Risks to Coastal Businesses and Boaters © Kelly Kaylor
Recreational boating and fishing community stakeholders continue to speak out regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s proposed North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Reduction Rule.
The proposed rule, while well intentioned, will have an enormous impact on boaters, anglers, and marine businesses up and down the East Coast. Along the Atlantic Coast, 63,000 registered saltwater fishing boats will be impacted, and 340,000 American jobs and nearly $84 billion in economic contributions are in jeopardy.
Under the proposed rule expansion, all boats 35 feet and greater cannot travel faster than 10 knots (about 11 mph) within a vast area extending from Massachusetts to central Florida. This includes areas up to 90 miles offshore, for up to 7 months out of the year in some instances. While crafting the rule, NOAA did not take into account how small recreational boats under 65 feet are designed and used. Recreational boats are not large ocean-going vessels, which are built to move through choppy waters and withstand turbulent weather. Requiring small recreational boats to travel at 10 knots (11 mph) in the open ocean puts boats at greater chance of capsizing or swamping, putting boater safety at risk.
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