Whale speed
Debate continues on request to limit vessel speeds to protect whales in SC
Those on both sides of the aisle are voicing why they are for or against expanding vessel speed limits to protect right whales along the east coast.
By Meredith Blair
Published: Apr. 12, 2024
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Those on both sides of the aisle are voicing why they are for or against expanding vessel speed limits to protect right whales along the east coast.
The request by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now sits in the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, part of the Office of Management and Budget.
In South Carolina, if the final rule passes, it will mean boaters in 35-foot or larger vessels, will have to go 10 knots, or about 11 mph, in certain locations called “seasonal management areas.”
Conservationists are all for this coming to fruition, as they say right whales are at risk of extinction, with less than 400 left. They also say the only two causes of death for adult right whales are vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements.
“Recreational vessels, whether its motorized or non-motorized, sport fishing vessels, if they hit a whale or likely to kill that whale and are very likely to run the risk of human injury and human loss of life as well,” Defenders of Wildlife Senior Conservation Law Attorney Jane Davenport said.
Davenport says it’s important to understand the fine print of the rule.
“It’s not going to apply in banks or rivers so there’s actually a much smaller effect than we think overall than some in the boating community are making it out to be,” Davenport said. “Another issue to consider is that these are not year-round speed limits being proposed, they’re just seasonal.”
On the other side, South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance CEO Gettys Brannon says they care about the environment, but this rule isn’t necessary. He says 10 knots presents safety issues that have not been considered.
“Boats, especially one of the 28 that are made here in South Carolina brands, we’re on a Key West now, they’re not made to go 10 knots,” Brannon said. “It causes the nose to sit up and the line of sight is certainly not what it would be if you were planed out and the draft whenever you’re plowing like that is further down in the water, so it has a higher likelihood of hitting an object in the water.”
Brannon doesn’t agree with the up to $15,000 fine for violating the potential rule.
“When you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than hitting one of the whales, in our opinion this rule is an incredible bureaucratic overreach,” Brannon said.
Boaters also have concerns about the economic impact and say it will have a domino effect if people stop coming to Charleston to fish because they’ll spend half or more of their charter getting to and from the fishing grounds.
“It’s the gas stations, it’s the bait and tackle shops, it’s the boat dealerships that are trying to sell boats, and that’s my biggest concern,” General Manger of Butler Marine Jim McClure said.
As this rule sits in the White House for now, there is no clear timeline for a decision.
NOAA Fisheries said it has no additional information about the timeline or modifications to the proposed rule in response to comments.
https://www.live5news.com/news/
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Southernduck
Bookmarks