NOAA Withdraws Proposed Vessel Speed Rule: Big Win for the Marine Industry

Updated January 17, 2025

3 min read

NOAA Withdraws Proposed Vessel Speed Rule: Big Win for the Marine Industry

right whale - vessel speed rule withdrawn

Great news for the recreational boating community and marine businesses—NOAA has withdrawn a controversial speed rule aimed at protecting the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Announced on January 16, 2025, the decision followed overwhelming feedback from boaters, anglers, and industry leaders who voiced concerns about the rule’s potential impact on boating, fishing, and the broader marine economy.

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The Proposed Rule: A Quick Recap

Introduced in 2022, the 10-knot speed rule sought to mitigate the risk of vessel collisions with North Atlantic right whales, one of the most endangered marine species. The proposed changes aimed to:

Include vessels 35 feet and larger under speed restriction requirements.
Broaden the geographic range and duration of seasonal speed zones.
Implement mandatory temporary speed zones in areas where right whales were detected.
A year-round ban on nighttime transit in the designated area.

While these measures were designed with conservation in mind, they sparked debate over their practicality and potential impact on the marine industry.

The Pushback – Vessel Speed Rule

Over 90,000 public comments poured in, with feedback from major marine businesses, boaters, and fishing organizations. Many voiced concerns that the rule was overly restrictive and unnecessarily complicated, creating challenges for smaller boats and limiting access to coastal waters. Marine industry businesses also highlighted potential economic impacts, stressing that speed enforcement and restricted ocean access could significantly harm the boating and fishing industries.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) acknowledged these concerns. Combined with time constraints to finalize the rule, this strong feedback led to NOAA withdrawing the proposal.

What’s Next?

While the withdrawal is a win for the marine community, it doesn’t mark the end of the discussion. The NMFS emphasized that the decision to withdraw does not rule out future propositions. However, the agency is committed to initiating a new rule development process that will follow the Administrative Procedure Act, ensuring plenty of opportunity for public input and a more balanced approach.

For now, the existing rule remains in effect: vessels 65 feet or longer must continue to adhere to a 10-knot speed limit in designated Seasonal Management Areas along the U.S. East Coast during specific times of the year.

Viking Yacht CEO Pat Healey on the Withdrawal of the Proposed Speed Rule

“This is great news for the industry,” says Viking Yacht President and CEO Pat Healey, a leading voice against the proposed rule. “We all worked together to stop this government overreach and safeguard our rights to the ocean. This will not alter our goal to protect boaters and the whales through technology.”

“We still have work to do with the speed restriction that’s in place now. We will continue to push NOAA to have the current 10-knot limit for boats 65 feet (LOA) and larger amended so that technology-based solutions can replace these speed limits, which have been in place since 2008, but not enforced until 2022,” stated Healey.

Balancing Conservation and Industry

The withdrawal of the proposed rule highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing marine conservation with the interests of the boating and fishing communities. Protecting the North Atlantic right whale remains a critical priority, but achieving this goal requires thoughtful policies that consider all stakeholders.

This decision underscores the power of public input in shaping regulations and the importance of collaboration between conservation efforts and the marine industry. While the debate over vessel speed limits is far from over, this development is a step toward creating solutions that work for everyone—both above and below the surface.