← Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
NOAARulemakingNOAA-NMFS-2020-0031

Modification of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

RIN
—
Last modified
Jun 14, 2023
Comment window
closed 1975d ago
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filings
2

Activity

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed 2 comments on this docket between Mar 2, 2021 and Mar 24, 2021. 23 other organizations filed here. The comment window closed 1975d ago.

What Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed (2)

Mar 24, 2021· Comment from Natural Resources Defense Council· NOAA-NMFS-2020-0031-1333

Dear NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations Benjamin Friedman, Please accept the attached 33,045 comments from members and online activists of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) calling on NOAA to adopt strong, effective protections to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction. The proposed plan to save North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in fishing gear falls dangerously short and would be a death sentence for this critically endangered species. There are fewer than 360 North Atlantic right whales remaining on Earth. In the last few years, fishing gear entanglements and vessel collisions have killed or seriously injured about 218 North Atlantic right whales -- roughly 24 whales per year. The death or serious injury of even one North Atlantic right whale a year is unsustainable if the population is to recover. NOAA has the responsibility to take forceful and immediate action to prevent entanglements, which are the leading cause of death for right whales. We join thousands of other NRDC activists in calling on you to take immediate action to: •Factor in the significant new scientific information that shows right whales are declining more rapidly than previously thought and need even stronger protections •Strengthen your proposed plan so that it reduces the risk of serious injury and mortality of North Atlantic right whales by at least 70-80 percent •Use your authority to implement immediate emergency measures to protect right whales from dangerous entanglements, such as fishing closures in certain areas where the risk of entanglement is high •Ramp up your efforts to test and foster a market for rope-less fishing systems, which would virtually eliminate the risk of entanglement and enable fishermen to safely fish alongside North Atlantic right whales. Please revert course and adopt strong, effective protections to save North American right whales. Thank you.

View on regulations.gov →
Mar 2, 2021· Comment from Natural Resources Defense Council· NOAA-NMFS-2020-0031-0718

Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.

View on regulations.gov →

Abstract

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) to reduce the risk of serious injuries and mortalities to North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and other large whales caused by entanglement in commercial lobster and crab trap/pot fisheries along the northeast U.S. East Coast.

View on regulations.gov →

Co-filers (23)

See everyone who commented →