COMDTINST 16450.4
winter calving area along the coast of Georgia and northern Florida; (2) a late winter
feeding and nursery area in Cape Cod Bay; (3) a spring feeding area in the Great South
Channel; (4) a summer/fall feeding and nursery area in the Bay of Fundy north of the
US-CA border; and (5) a late summer/early winter feeding area at Browns Bank on the
continental shelf south of Nova Scotia. Survival of this western North Atlantic
population is in grave doubt, partly because of the low number of births in the
population and the species' long calving interval. On average, mature females bear a
single calf only once every four years. Surveys document an average of only 12 calves
born every year.
(2)
Agencies Involved. U.S. Coast Guard, NMFS, NOAA, Department of Defense
(DOD), Marine Mammal Commission (MMC), and other organizations involved in
whale protection activities.
(3)
Assumptions.
(a) That the northern right whale will remain endangered for the near future and
coordinated, pro-active measures will continue to be needed to enhance its
chances for survival.
(b) That the Coast Guard will continue to interact with many aspects of the
commercial and recreational maritime community, thereby being able to
frequently educate, notify and coordinate efforts with both communities to stay
current with northern right whale protection activities.
b. Philosophy.
(1)
The scope and operational demands of Coast Guard missions and responsibilities in
the Atlantic Area necessitate the need for an effective, coordinated, interagency
approach for additional conservation measures to protect the northern right whale.
This approach, which consists of an increased awareness and education campaign, is
designed to complement existing efforts by federal, state and local governments, as
well as non-governmental agencies, to protect the northern right whale. This
instruction defines a framework for employment of all Coast Guard members
involved in the protection of northern right whales.
(2)
A ship reporting system will be developed with NMFS and NOAA to focus on
merchant mariners operating merchant vessels greater than 300 gross tons. The Coast
Guard will assist NOAA and other agencies in the acquisition and funding of an IRM
provider to develop and run software and a database system that will receive reports
submitted via INMARSAT by vessels approaching designated habitat areas. This
IRM provider will transmit return messages providing approaching vessels with
information and cautions for transiting right whale habitat areas. Vessels not
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