E&E News: NOAA chief: Lower boat speeds key to protecting right whales

E&E DAILY | NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad on Tuesday defended a
controversial plan to impose speed limits on more boaters along the Atlantic Coast,
saying it’s necessary to make sure the endangered North Atlantic right whale does not
go extinct.

“This is not something we think would be nice to do — we have to do this, by dictate if
you will, from the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act,”
Spinrad told a House Science, Space and Technology panel.

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Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) told Spinrad that he appreciated NOAA’s work “in balancing
the many interests” and noted that he had even received letters from third graders
who are worried about the future of the right whales.

“If the current rate of population decline continues, the species will go extinct by
2037,” Amo said.

Defending President Joe Biden’s budget for next year, Spinrad said the request for his
agency would boost overall spending by roughly $225 million and help “build on
NOAA’s long history of success.”

“Through this budget, NOAA will support the whole-of-government effort to address
the climate crisis, boost resilience, and promote economic growth,” he said.