Article on Right Whales in today's Boston Globe

[AndyP]

I believe that the distance that vessels must keep from Right Whales is 500 yards, although whale watching boats apparently are permitted to be 500 feet. (From what I have seen, the whale watching boats get much closer than that to other types of whales. It seems sometimes that the whales like to perform for them and are probably familiar with their particular sounds and are attracted to them.) It is interesting to know the characteristics of Right Whales, although it would be very hard from 1500 feet to see the V-shaped spume or lack of dorsal fin. Their feeding characteristics could be seen from that distance, but they may not be feeding.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/bre...e_cape_re.html

I want to avoid all whales by at least the prescribed distance, but how does one insure that? Aside from CG or NOAA transmissions or website postings of areas to avoid when Right Whales are active, what is the best advice to be able to steer clear of them? Yes, I realize that bft are often in close proximity to whales, but no way do I need to pursue bft so much that I want to interfere with whales. Would appreciate insights.

[xbluefinx]

NEVER GO ON A BOAT AGAIN TO ENSURE WHALE SAFETY!!!!!

[tomytuna]

hey X! that would be a funny reply except I'm a firm beliver that the green pukes DO want you and me off the water.

[getreel]

Here is an interesting site in the public domain that provides near real-time right whale detections based on a network of acoustic monitoring buoys.

http://www.listenforwhales.org/netco...e.aspx?pid=430

[amarshall]

Here is an interesting site in the public domain that provides near real-time right whale detections based on a network of acoustic monitoring buoys.

http://www.listenforwhales.org/netco...e.aspx?pid=430

So according to this chart they want to stop all ship traffic.

[ember]

yeah....that seems a little sketchy....

[AndyP]

So according to this chart they want to stop all ship traffic.

A few points: Good site, their listening devices are obviously heavily concentrated in shipping lanes, it would be very difficult to avoid Right Whales where many fish for bft, and that their site says that Right Whales tend to leave Mass Bay in the spring. Good luck trying to get commercial vessels to slow to 10 kts., much less make evasive maneuvers if there are pods of whales in the vicinity. It is truly impressive to observe large cruise ships at 20 kts+ within a mile of so of clearing Boston Harbor and they cannot change direction easily at that speed. My guess is that they cruise closer to 30 kts once in Federal waters, making turns even less likely.

[Capt Fred]

Always have at least two Coast Guard lookouts on station at all times
O'ooo wait, that doesn't work

[seaworm1]

Ill be dropping vibrators at each one of those listening bouys just to confuse the crap of the researchers