PEER and The Ocean Foundation filed the petition, which is the first to propose a nationwide minimum standard for whale safety zones. NOAA Fisheries would establish whale safety zones for all large ships entering or exiting American ports or transiting through marine sanctuaries and monuments.
“Only mandatory whale safety measures will stem the rising tide of preventable whale deaths,” PEER Executive Director Tim Whitehouse said. “NOAA needs to act now if it wants to prevent what will be a cascade of whale extinctions in coming years.”
The zones would extend 30 nautical miles seaward from American ports, and include what is called the U.S. Territorial Sea, extending 12 nautical miles from shore.