February 28, 2017 — Sailors are asked to take caution in waters around Martha’s Vineyard after 10 critically-endangered North Atlantic right whales were seen feeding in waters south of the Island.
Last week NOAA fisheries announced a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone 16 nautical miles south of the Vineyard. Mariners are asked to either avoid the area or travel through at 10 knots or less. Coordinates are available at the fisheries website.
The speed restriction zone is in effect through Wednesday, March 8.
According to NOAA an aggregation of 10 right whales was spotted in the area on Feb. 21, including one whale south of Gay Head and Noman’s Land and several other whales directly south of the middle of the Island.
North Atlantic right whales weigh up to 79 tons and can grow to be 50 feet long. They give birth to calves from December through March in coastal waters off Georgia and Florida, and travel north to New England waters to feed on plankton. The first reports of North Atlantic right whales this season in Cape Cod Bay came in late December, and aerial surveys have shown aggregations of 25 to 30 whales in the bay since then, according to the Center for Coastal Studies, a larger than average number. Right whale sightings usually increase beginning in mid-March.