Report faults speed-zone enforcement along East Coast

摘要

Compliance with speed rules designed to protect rare whales has increased in recent years but could still behigher, according to a report from the federal government.The slow speed zones are implemented to protect North Atlantic right whales, which number about 360 and arevulnerable to collisions with ships. NOAA Fisheries implemented seasonal, mandatory vessel speed rules insome areas along the East Coast in 2008 to try to help the whales.A report released by the service last week states that the level of mariner compliance with the speed ruleincreased to 81% in 2018-19. That was the highest level on record.