March 25, 2025 — Conservation groups are attempting to step in to defend a 2008 vessel speed rule designed to protect North Atlantic right whales from vessel strikes, arguing that the speed limits are vital to saving the endangered species.
“This speed rule is the only one that protects the few remaining right whales from deadly vessel strikes,” Conservation Law Foundation Senior Counsel Erica Fuller said in a statement. “Undermining the rule will set a dangerous precedent that risks the survival of endangered right whales and countless other marine mammals and vulnerable species. Our responsibility to protect these creatures extends beyond policy; it’s a commitment to preserving the health of our oceans for generations to come.”