HALIFAX — Environmental groups in the United States and Canada are sounding the alarm about a U.S. government proposal to change a regulation that was introduced to protect a critically endangered species of whale.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed Wednesday business-friendly changes to rules that require large ships to slow down at certain times to avoid collisions with North Atlantic right whales.
The federal agency says it is seeking public input on changes aimed at reducing what it calls unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens while ensuring conservation practices.
In the U.S., the National Marine Manufacturers Association has described the speed restrictions as “archaic,” saying it would prefer using new technology to avoid whales without slowing down.
Sean Brillant, marine program co-ordinator with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, says speed limits should be maintained because they are particularly effective at preventing collisions involving smaller vessels.
Moira Brown, science director at the Canadian Whale Institute in Welshpool, N.B., says raising or ending the U.S. speed limit would destroy 40 years of work aimed at reducing whale deaths caused by ship strikes.
“Researchers, the shipping industry and government regulators have worked really hard to come up with measures to give these whales a chance,” Brown said in an interview.
“If this is done, it will turn back years of meetings, negotiations, discussions of what can be done to reduce the impact of vessel strikes on North Atlantic right whales.”
The population of these massive mammals is less than 400, though their numbers have been slowly increasing since 2020.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2026.
The Canadian Press