January 19, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
There are now 6 Slow Zones in effect.
NOAA Fisheries announces two new Slow Zones (voluntary vessel speed restriction zone) to protect right whales.
On January 15, 2021, observers with the NOAA aerial survey team detected an aggregation of right whales 15nm southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
Also on January 15, 2021, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Atlantic City buoy and New York Bight buoy acoustically detected the presence of right whales 34nm SE of New York, New York.
Both the southeast of New York City Slow Zone and the southeast of Nantucket Island MA Slow Zones are in effect through January 30, 2021.
Mariners, please go around these areas or go slow (10 knots or less) inside these areas where right whales have been detected.
Slow Zone Coordinates:
Southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, January 15-30, 2021
41 25 N
40 44 N
069 28 W
070 21 W
and
Southeast of New York City, New York, January 15-30, 2021
40 41 N
40 01 N
073 03 W
073 55 W
See the coordinates for all the slow zones currently in effect.