WHALE PROTECTION MEASURES

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Published: 7 November 2025

The latest edition of the highly useful “Whale Chart” has been published by the World Shipping Council (WSC) and is freely available on their website.

This is particularly timely, as November coincides with the commencement of various seasonal mandatory and voluntary controls to assist in protection of the North Atlantic Right Whale. These include the following as defined in relation to the United States (US) East Coast:

MID-ATLANTIC US

• Mandatory speed limit of 10 knots or less from 1 November until 30 April in six defined areas off the coast of various US states from Georgia to Massachusetts, including the approaches to ports such as Savannah, Baltimore, and New York.

SOUTHEAST USA

• WHALESSOUTH mandatory ship reporting from 15 November until 16 April
• Mandatory speed limit of 10 knots or less from 15 November until 15 April in a defined area off the coast of the US states of Georgia and Florida
• Voluntary ship routing measures from November until April in the waters off the US states of Georgia and Florida.

The Whale Chart provides the coordinates of the various schemes and provides links and references to further resources.

Whale protection measures are in place globally, with some seasonal and others all year round. We recommend consultation of useful resources such as the Whale Chart and our guidance on the subject.

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