Bipartisan US Senate Bill to Prohibit Atlantic Speed Limit
The bill is being lauded by the recreational marine industry and other stakeholders.
A bipartisan bill that would prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from enacting any rule that would modify or replace the current North Atlantic Right Whale vessel strike reduction (VSR) rule until at least 2030 was introduced in the US Senate yesterday and is being lauded by the recreational marine industry and other stakeholders.
The essence of the bill is to keep NOAA from imposing the mandatory speed limits for recreational boats in the right whale protection zones as outlines by NOAA.
Retiring Senator Joe Manchin – a former Democrat turned independent – and Republican Lindsey Graham, both from the coastal states of West Virginia and South Carolina, respectively put forward the Protecting Whales, Human Safety, and the Economy Act of 2024.
The proposed changes to the rule would broaden the current boundaries and timing of seasonal speed restrictions and extend the rule to vessels 35ft to 65ft, which Manchin – in a news release from his office – claims has no scientific evidence that the Proposed Rule would further protect North Atlantic Right Whales.
“As co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and as an avid sportsman myself, I know firsthand how important our fishing culture is to who we are as West Virginians and as Americans,” said Senator Manchin, adding that his measure will “prevent unnecessary federal rules from placing extreme burdens on our seasonal fishermen, boat manufacturers and coastal economies. We can and should find reasonable solutions to protect the North Atlantic Right Whale population without regulating critical industries out of business, and I stand ready to work with my bipartisan colleagues to find that balance.”
Industry Association Lauds the Proposed Bill
In a statement from NMMA, president and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer said “We know that advanced marine technology, not NOAA’s ill-conceived and dangerous vessel speed rule, is the most effective way to protect endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale. We thank Senators Manchin and Graham for introducing legislation that will provide critical investments toward these marine technologies and for championing a thoughtful, bipartisan approach to addressing this conservation challenge.”
For his part, Senator Graham supports the industry’s technology approach.
“The proposed rule will dramatically affect the safety of harbor pilots operating in Charleston and is a death blow to sport fishing, boat manufacturing, and tourism across South Carolina,” said Graham. “The best thing we can do to protect right whales is to support the deployment of technology.