Commandant
2100 Second Street, S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-O/G-M
Phone: (202) 267-1890
COMDTINST 16450.4
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 16450.4
Subj: EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE
Ref: (a) Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1531, et seq.).
(b) Endangered Species Act Regulations (50 CFR Parts17 and 217, 220, 221, 222, 226, and
227).
(c) Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 USC 1361, et seq.).
(d)Marine Mammal Protection Act Regulations (50 CFR Parts 18, 216, 222, 227 and 229).
1. PURPOSE: This instruction outlines procedures for working with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to
develop a system to educate mariners that they are entering Northern Right Whale critical
habitat areas. Coast Guard efforts to educate mariners and participate in northern right whale
conservation efforts will be guided by this instruction.
2. DISCUSSION:
a. Situation. There is an estimated population of approximately 300 northern right whales
living in the northern Atlantic Ocean and they have been designated as endangered by the
National Marine Fisheries Service/Department of Commerce. They are the rarest whales in
the world and are protected from disturbance and injury by the Endangered Species Act of
1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Because this particular species
frequently lies at the surface, they are very vulnerable to collisions with ships.
(1)
General. The western North Atlantic right whale population seasonally inhabits the
east coast of the United States and Canada and is the species' largest known
population. In summer, most right whales use feeding grounds off New England and
Canada and in winter females about to give birth and some juveniles use coastal
waters off the southeastern U.S. The location of most of the population in winter is
unknown. Five seasonal high-use right whale habitats have been identified: (1) a
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