New state law will require whale-safe boating education
A new New York law aims to protect whales by requiring whale-safe boating education and instructing boaters to keep at least 300 feet away from whales.
More Stories
A new state law is aiming to provide beach boaters additional safety measures when they encounter whales in the waters off Long Island.
The New York Whale Awareness Act will require that whale-safe boating education be included in state boater safety courses and during the boat registration process.
Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says whales have been spending more time in Long Island waters, increasing the chances of encounters with recreational boaters.
“The leading cause of whale deaths that have washed up on the North Atlantic Coast Line is because of boat collisions with those whales,” Esposito said. “It's not just the big ships and tankers, but also marine vessels that are 65 feet or less.”
Esposito says boaters need to keep a distance of at least 300 feet from whales.
She says that if a boater unexpectedly finds themselves in the vicinity of a whale, they will be required to immediately shut off the boat's engine.
