(Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries)

On Thursday, December 15th, American Sportfishing Association president Glenn Hughes was featured on Fox News discussing NOAA’s proposed vessel speed restrictions designed to protect the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. The report also includes commentary from National Marine Manufacturers Association’s President Frank Hugelmeyer, Center for Sportfishing Policy President Jeff Angers and Boat.US Foundation President Chris Edmonston, showing the serious concern that the entire boating and sportfishing industry has for this potential regulation.

In August 2022, NOAA Fisheries proposed limiting speeds for all vessels 35 feet or longer to 10 knots (11.5 mph) off the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Northern Florida. The speed limit would last up to 7 months in some parts of the Atlantic coast and would extend up to 90 miles off the coast in parts. NOAA introduced this restriction to protect the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale from vessel strikes. However, there have only been 5 fatal vessel strikes occurring since 2008. Therefore, ASA submitted detailed comments to NOAA Fisheries questioning whether conservation goals for right whales could be achieved with less restrictive measures.
 
The ASA understands the important role right whales play in coastal ecosystems and that they are critically endangered, but the association is concerned that this proposal is overreaching and not rooted in the best available science as detailed in the ASA’s comment letter. In the news coverage, Hughes highlighted the consequences that this rule will have on anglers and the sportfishing industry, stating:
 
“This overreach is going to basically all but halt fishing off the East Coast of the United States. It will just keep people from fishing. … Instead of getting to a [fishing] destination in an hour, you’re talking about something that’s going to take 3 to 4 hours both ways. … If it takes that long, they’re just not going to go. If they don’t go, then they don’t buy product. They don’t buy boats. They don’t buy fuel. They don’t buy anything that goes with that. And it hurts the economy.”

Although the comment period on the proposed vessel speed rule has closed, anglers are encouraged to contact their members of congress to request that more analysis be conducted to develop alternatives that address concerns voiced by the sportfishing and boating industry.

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