美国政府决定撤回一项提案,该提案要求船只在东海岸的某些地区减速,以保护极度濒危的北大西洋露脊鲸。
官员们周三表示,在本届政府结束之前,没有足够的时间来敲定这项规定。
该提案是两年前由国家海洋渔业局(NMFS)提出的,旨在减少船只与露脊鲸的碰撞次数。
由于船只撞击和渔具缠绕,这些鲸鱼面临着严重的威胁,目前只剩下不到380头。
然而,拜登政府敲定这一规则的计划被叫停,即将上任的特朗普政府不太可能优先考虑这一规定。
提案包括哪些内容?
提案规则将包括:
● 扩大东海岸的慢速区
● 在特定地区和季节,要求小至35英尺的船只将速度降至10节。
● 每当发现露脊鲸时,就实行临时速度限制。
目前,只有超过65英尺的船只在某些地区才需要遵守这些速度限制。
国家海洋渔业局收到了约9万条公众对该提案的意见。官员们表示,在本届政府任期结束前,不可能审查所有反馈意见并最终敲定这项规定。
环保人士表示,这一决定使北大西洋露脊鲸面临更大的灭绝风险。自该提案提出以来,至少有四头露脊鲸死亡,还有许多鲸鱼因船只撞击而受伤。
科学家们认为,将航速降低到10节可以将鲸鱼碰撞的风险降低86%。
包括航运公司和东海岸社区在内的该规定的批评者反对这些限制。他们说,限速将损害当地经济,减少渡轮服务,增加旅行时间。
一项分析估计,该规定可能导致楠塔基特岛经济损失11%。
自然保护组织对此感到失望,他们补充说,政府错过了保护濒临灭绝物种的机会。来自海洋保护组织的吉布·布罗根说:“这种延误正在让鲸鱼付出生命的代价。”
另一方面,行业代表对这一决定表示欢迎。美国国家海洋制造商协会(National Marine Manufacturers Association)主席弗兰克•休格梅尔(Frank Hugelmeyer)表示,该提案将对划船和航运业产生负面影响。
目前,从2008年开始实施的现行速度规定将继续有效。这些规则要求超过65英尺的船只在特定区域减速。
北大西洋露脊鲸的数量继续下降。环保人士警告说,如果不采取紧急行动,该物种可能无法存活到2035年以后。
▲Image for representation purposes only
英文原文
The U.S. government has decided to withdraw a proposal that would have required ships to slow down in certain areas of the East Coast to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Officials said on Wednesday that there is not enough time to finalise the rule before the current administration ends.
The proposal, which was introduced over two years ago by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), aimed to reduce the number of ship collisions with right whales.
These whales, with fewer than 380 remaining, face severe threats due to ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement.
However, the Biden administration’s plan to finalise the rule was stopped, and the incoming Trump administration is unlikely to prioritise it.
What did the proposal include?
The proposal rule would have:
Expanded slow-speed zones along the East Coast
Required vessels as small as 35 feet to reduce speed to 10 knots in specific areas and seasons.
Introduced temporary speed restrictions whenever right whales were spotted.
Currently, only vessels over 65 feet are required to follow these speed limits in certain areas.
The NMFS received about 90,000 public comments on the proposal. Officials said it was not possible to review all the feedback and finalise the rule before the end of the administration.
Conservationists say that this decision puts the North Atlantic right whale at greater risk of extinction. Since the proposal’s introduction, at least four right whales have died, and many others have been injured due to vessel strikes.
Scientists believe that reducing ship speeds to 10 knots can decrease the risk of whale collisions by 86%.
Critics of the rule, including shipping companies and East Coast communities, opposed the restrictions. They say that the speed limits would harm local economies, reduce ferry services, and increase travel times.
An analysis estimated that the rule could have led to an 11% loss for Nantucket’s economy.
Conservation groups were disappointed, adding that the government missed an opportunity to protect a species on the brink of extinction. Gib Brogan from Oceana, a conservation organisation said, “This delay is costing whales their lives.”
On the other hand, industry representatives welcomed the decision. Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said the proposal would have negatively impacted boating and shipping industries.
For now, the existing speed regulations from 2008 will remain in effect. These rules require vessels over 65 feet to slow down in specific areas.
The North Atlantic right whale population continues to decline. Conservationists warn that without urgent action, the species may not survive beyond 2035.
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