Pallone Leads Request to Federal Agencies to Protect North Atlantic Right Whale After Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today sent a letter to the Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Homeland Security urging them to enforce vessel speed restrictions following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. In the letter, Pallone and 13 other Members of Congress expressed concern that higher volumes of vessel traffic in the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Virginia could pose a grave threat to the North Atlantic right whale (NARW) if vessel speeds are not enforced.
According to a report from Oceana, most boats are traveling at high speeds in slow zones designated to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Since 2017, more than 77 percent of deaths and injuries of the endangered North Atlantic right whale have been caused by vessel strikes and entanglements.
“In your management of the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse emergency and efforts to re-route shipping to other East Coast ports, we write to request that your departments ensure increased maritime traffic is compliant with vessel speed rules during whale migration season. Strict compliance with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) North Atlantic right whale (NARW) vessel speed restriction rule for vessels 65 feet and over will support the Administration’s commitment to the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as mariner safety,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Ports that neighbor Baltimore, including the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Virginia, already rank as some of the busiest in the country and other high-traffic East Coast ports, such as Savannah and Charleston, where breeding occurs, are also likely to experience a rise in traffic due to Baltimore’s closure. Vessel operators that have been re-routed and do not comply with the speed restriction rule pose a great risk not only to vulnerable sea animals, but also to mariner safety,” the lawmakers continued. “While we are focused on the NARW’s long-term survival as a species, an additional disaster or environmental spill due to a lapse in compliance with existing safeguards would be devastating.”
“Protecting North Atlantic right whales from boat strikes, and allowing their population to rebuild and even thrive, can be a historical success story — one that can lay a blueprint for protecting and restoring all of our ocean wildlife and ecosystems,” said Sam Waterston, actor and Oceana board chair.
“The collapse of the Baltimore Bridge is a tragedy for the community and economy, and we need to ensure it doesn’t end in a wildlife catastrophe. The North Atlantic right whale is already in extinction’s crosshairs and increased vessel traffic only further jeopardizes their survival. Enhanced enforcement of vessel speed is essential to prevent more deaths of this critically endangered species,” said Kathleen Collins, Senior Marine Campaign Manager, International Fund for Animal Welfare.
In January, Pallone sent a letter to NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard demanding the agencies enforce the law to protect marine mammals. Last year, NOAA allocated $82 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations to support the conservation of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The funding announcement came after Pallone sent a letter with the Democratic Members of New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation to the Biden Administration requesting more action to protect marine mammals and their habitats.
A copy of the letter is available here.