All,
NOAA Fisheries is alerting you to the presence of foraging (searching &
feeding) aggregations of endangered North Atlantic right whales and sei
whales that are currently in and around coastal Massachusetts waters.
This year an abundance of copepods (desired food for both whale species)
has attracted right and sei whales to Massachusetts Bay, especially in
the vicinity of the BE buoy in the Boston Traffic Separation Scheme
(TSS). Subsurface feeding behavior coupled with increased vessel traffic
from seasonal ferries, whale watch vessels, and recreational boaters
presents the potential for collisions between vessels and whales.
Mariners are reminded that right whales are particularly susceptible to
ship strikes, difficult to detect while subsurface feeding, and often
oblivious to vessel activity around them. NOAA Fisheries encourages
mariners to keep a sharp lookout for these animals.
Regards,
Pat Gerrior
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