50 CFR 224.105 · NOAA Fisheries
North Atlantic Right Whale Speed Zones Map
NOAA Fisheries' Seasonal Management Areas protect North Atlantic right whales along the U.S. East Coast. Under 50 CFR 224.105, vessels 65 feet (19.8 meters) or longer must travel at 10 knots or less over ground inside each area during its season. The map shows the areas and whether each is in season today or on any date you pick.
The zones and their seasons
The 10-knot limit applies in each zone from the first date to the last, every year.
| Zone | In season |
|---|---|
| Cape Cod Bay SMA | January 1 to May 15 |
| Off Race Point SMA | March 1 to April 30 |
| Great South Channel SMA | April 1 to July 31 |
| Block Island Sound SMA | November 1 to April 30 |
| New York / New Jersey SMA | November 1 to April 30 |
| Delaware Bay SMA | November 1 to April 30 |
| Chesapeake Bay Entrance SMA | November 1 to April 30 |
| Morehead City / Beaufort SMA | November 1 to April 30 |
| Mid-Atlantic SMA: Wilmington, NC to Brunswick, GA | November 1 to April 30 |
| Southeast U.S. SMA (Calving Ground) | November 15 to April 15 |
Who the 10-knot rule covers
Every vessel 65 feet (19.8 meters) or longer in overall length that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and every other vessel of that length entering or departing a U.S. port or place.
It does not apply to U.S. vessels owned or operated by, or under contract to, the Federal Government; to foreign sovereign vessels in joint exercises with the U.S. Navy; or to state law enforcement vessels engaged in law enforcement or search and rescue.
Safe maneuvering speed
A vessel may go faster than 10 knots only to keep a safe maneuvering speed where oceanographic, hydrographic or meteorological conditions severely restrict its maneuverability, and the pilot on board (or the master, when there is no pilot) confirms the need. The reasons, the speed, the latitude and longitude, and the time and duration of the deviation go in the logbook, which the master signs and dates.
Planning a transit?
Ask RegKnot which zones are in season on your route and what the rule requires of your vessel. Answers cite the regulation.
The areas on this map are NOAA Fisheries' published Seasonal Management Area polygons, simplified to about 100 m. Their offshore corners are the coordinates in the rule; the inshore edges follow a shoreline dataset, which NOAA calls an approximation, not the official boundary. For navigation, use NOAA Fisheries' charts and the coordinates in 50 CFR 224.105. Navigation aid only, not legal advice; the regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with NOAA or the U.S. Coast Guard.