US plans to limit ship speed to protect whales

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US government has proposed a new speed limit for large ships off certain coasts to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from fatal collisions, though the zone is smaller than originally planned.

The administration of President George W. Bush wants to limit ship speed to 10 knots (18.5 kilometers per hour) off several US ports.

In an apparent concession to the shipping industry, however, the government limited the slow speed zone to 20 nautical miles (37 km) from the coast, down from the 30 nautical miles (55.6 kilometers) it first proposed in 2006.

The speed limit proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would only apply for certain periods of the year.

The rule unveiled Monday must...