The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species with only approximately 370 individuals remaining, including about 70 reproductively active females. Human impacts continue to threaten the survival of this species including fatal strikes with ships. As these whales migrate from their feeding grounds in the northern US states and Canada to the shallow, coastal waters of their calving grounds off South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida speed restrictions are put in place to reduce the risk of fatal collisions. Read about these and other protection measures here. Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) in the Mid-Atlantic to protect North Atlantic right whales NOAA Fisheries have announced the opening of Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) in the Mid-Atlantic to protect North Atlantic right whales starting on 1 November and running until 30 April 2026. All vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in this area to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with these endangered whales. Because vessels of all sizes can strike and injure a right whale, NOAA Fisheries also encourages vessels less than 65 feet in length to slow down to 10 knots or less within active SMAs. Mid-Atlantic SMA (Migratory Route and Calving Grounds) includes: Block Island Sound waters bounded by: 40º51'53.7" N 070º36'44.9" W 41º20'14.1" N 070º49'44.1" W 41º04'16.7" N 071º51'21.0" W 40º35'56.5" N 071º38'25.1" W then back to starting point. Within a 20-nm (37 km) radius of the following (as measured seaward from the COLREGS lines): Ports of New York/New Jersey: 40º29'42.2"N 073º55'57.6"W Entrance to the Delaware Bay (Ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington): 38º52'27.4"N 075º01'32.1"W Entrance to the Chesapeake Bay (Ports of Hampton Roads and Baltimore): 37º00'36.9"N 075º57'50.5"W Ports of Morehead City and Beaufort, NC: 34º41'32.0"N 076°40'08.3"W Within a continuous area 20-nm from shore between Wilmington, North Carolina, to Brunswick, Georgia, boun