FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A federal effort to expand safety measures to protect endangered right whales from boat collisions in the Atlantic Ocean is receiving a big thumbs down from the maritime industry.
Marine organizations including yacht brokers, manufacturers and fishing advocates took time out from the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on Friday to voice their opposition to the proposed new speed restrictions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants to expand a current 10-knot [11.5 mph] speed limit to include boats 35 feet and longer; the current threshold includes boats 65 feet and longer. It would also expand existing “slow zones” in the Atlantic to as far as 100 miles off shore.
