Yudu - Digital_REEDs_East08

cal Habitat for this species and has identified of the world by the International Maritime
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctu- Organization (IMO). In the interest of safe
ary (bounded by 42° 46’N, 070° 13.6’W; 42° navigation, it is recommended that vessels
06’N, 070° 026’W; 42° 08’N, 070° 28’W; 42° underway use these schemes, to the extent
33’N, 070° 36’W; and 42° 39’N, 070° 30’W) possible, by day and night and in all weather
as an additional area of importance. In the conditions. An “area to be avoided” is a
spring, the whales also aggregate in the routing measure comprising an area within
Precautionary Area within the Great South defined limits in which either navigation is
Channel (bounded by 41° 40’N, 069° 45’W; particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally
41° 00’N, 069° 05’W; 41° 38’N, 068° 13’W; important to avoid casualties; these should
and 42° 10’N, 068° 31’W). be avoided by all ships or certain classes of
Collision Avoidance: Mariners are re- ships.
quested to post a lookout for right whales as When operating in or near Traffic Sepa-
they approach these areas and to minimize ration Schemes, mariners are urged to
their exit and entrance speeds to the extent comply at all times with the 72 COLREGS
possible to maintain safe handling of the ves- and in particular Rule 10 (Traffic Separa-
sel, preferably 5 knots or less, in the channels tion Schemes). The IMO-approved routing
and precautionary areas to avoid ship-whale measures that affect shipping in or near U.S.
collisions. water are:
From December to March, the coastal
Traffic Separation Schemes
waters between Altamaha Sound, Georgia,
and Sebastian Inlet, Florida, are the only
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calving grounds for the right whale. Right
-ASSACHU
whales, especially the females and their
setts
calves, frequently lie at the surface, a behav-
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ning
"AY
ior that makes them vulnerable to collisions
Rhode Island, and Buzzards Bay, Massa-
ar
with vessels. Such collisions are a significant
chusetts
source of right whale mortality.
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Vessels operating within 5 miles of shore
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between 28° 00’N and 30° 15’N, and 15
s )NTHE!PPROACHESTO#HESAPEAKE"AY
miles of shore between 30° 15’N and 31°
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p
ec
ON"AY
15’N, should also take precautions to avoid
Areas to be Avoided
collisions with right whales. Vessel speeds
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upon exit and entrance into the ports of
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Miami, Florida, through Charleston, South
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Carolina, should also be kept at a minimum.
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Right whale sightings in these areas should
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ules
be reported to Coast Guard Group Mayport
The aids to navigation depicted on charts
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via VHF-FM radio or, if the sighting occurs
comprise a system consisting of fixed and
along the coast of Georgia, to the Georgia
floating aids with varying degrees of reli-
Department of Natural Resources, Non-
ability. Therefore, prudent mariners will not
Game Endangered Species Wildlife Program
rely solely on any single aid to navigation,
800-2SAVEME or 912-264-7218).
particularly a floating aid.
Mariners should maintain a distance of
The buoy symbol is used to indicate the
500 meters from any whales sighted and are
approximate position of the buoy body and
reminded that intentional close approach to
the ground tackle that secures the buoy to
whales is prohibited and may violate federal
the seabed. The approximate position is used
or state law.
because of practical limitations in position-
Traffic Separation Schemes and Areas to Be
ing and maintaining buoys and their tackle
Avoided
in precise geographical locations.
To increase the safety of navigation, par-
The position of the buoy body can be ex-
ticularly in converging areas of high traffic
pected to shift inside and outside the chart-
density, routes incorporating traffic separa-
ing symbol because of the forces of nature.
tion have been established in certain areas
873