[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29270-29271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13663]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Whale Watch Guidelines
[I.D.052499D]
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Revised Whale Watch Guidelines for
Vessel Operations in the Northeastern United States.
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region (NMFS/
NER) has, in coordination with the Northeast Recovery Plan
Implementation Team, revised the operational guidelines for all vessels
engaged in whale watching in the northeastern United States. The
revised guidelines address concerns about the possibility of whale
watch vessels colliding with whales. NMFS/NER, which first developed
whale watching guidelines in 1985, has revised the guidelines to
provide specific vessel speed recommendations, decrease the number of
vessels that should be in close proximity to whales, and recommend the
use of lookouts when entering or departing known whale aggregation
areas.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the new guidelines are available by writing or
calling either Douglas Beach, NMFS, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA
01930, 978/281-9254; or Anne Smrcina, NOS, Stellwagen National Marine
Sanctuary, 175 Edward Foster Rd., Scituate, MA 02066, 781/545-8026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Beach, NMFS, Northeast Region
978/281-9254; or Anne Smrcina, NOS, Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary 781/545-8026.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Whale watch vessel operators seek out areas
where whales concentrate, which has led to numbers of vessels
congregating around groups of whales, and thereby increased the
potential for harassment, injury or death of these animals. NMFS
Northeast Region has attempted to address this situation with a
combination of enforcing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 9
prohibitions against taking listed species, promulgating regulations
limiting approaches to right whales to 500 yards, and issuing
operational guidelines in 1985 to give vessel operators guidance on how
to approach large whales without causing harassment. However, since the
guidelines were first issued, the increase in numbers and overall speed
of vessels operating in whale high use areas has raised the risk of
collision with whales, as evidenced by two collisions with whales that
occurred during the summer of 1998. The Northeast Recovery Plan
Implementation Team, which works to implement the ESA Right Whale and
Humpback Whale Recovery Plans, established a Whale Watch Advisory Group
(WWAG) under its Ship Strike Sub-Committee to look into appropriate
measures to address this increasing threat to whales. The WWAG came up
with revisions to the existing guidelines that would address the issue.
NMFS has revised the guidelines to incorporate the recommendations of
the WWAG.
The revised guidelines include several measures intended to
decrease the likelihood of future adverse interactions with whales,
such as collisions. The previous guidelines, for instance, included a
circular Whale Awareness Zone that extended one-quarter mile from any
observed whale. The new awareness zone in the revised guidelines
extends two miles from any observed whale. The new guidelines recommend
specific speed limits for vessels approaching or departing from whales
and further recommend the posting of a dedicated lookout to keep track
of all whales in the area and to advise the vessel operator of their
location when entering or leaving whale watching areas.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary has established a program to
monitor the effectiveness of the revised whale approach guidelines, and
will deploy trained observers aboard vessels owned by a number of
commercial
[[Page 29271]]
whale watch companies who have volunteered to participate in this
monitoring program. The USCG Auxiliary will also use other platforms,
such as USCG Auxiliary vessels and aircraft to observe the activities
of recreational and commercial whale watch vessel operators on
Stellwagen Bank and in other waters off New England during the 1999
season.
The results of the USCG Auxiliary monitoring program are expected
to help NOAA determine whether the voluntary guidelines are sufficient
or whether additional measures, such as regulations, need to be
implemented to prevent harassment or injury of whales in coastal waters
of the Northeastern United States.
Dated: May 24, 1999.
Andrew Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-13663 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
