NOAA FISHERIES ANNOUNCES THAT ON 01 APR 2025, NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES WERE SIGHTED IN THE VICINITY OF COASTAL WATERS OFF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND ALABAMA. PLEASE REPORT ALL RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS TO (877) WHALE-HELP OR TO THE COAST GUARD VIA VHF-FM CHANNEL 16. RIGHT WHALES ARE SLOW MOVING ANIMALS THAT ARE PRONE TO COLLISIONS WITH VESSELS. VESSEL OPERATORS ARE REMINDED TO USE CAUTION AROUND RIGHT WHALES AND OPERATE AT A SAFE SPEED. INTENTIONALLY APPROACHING RIGHT WHALES IS PROHIBITED AND MAY RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES MARINERS AVOID RIGHT WHALES BY AT LEAST 500 YARDS, THIS INCLUDES BOATS, DRONES, AND PADDLEBOATS. CANCEL AT//050500Z APR 25//
NOAA FISHERIES ANNOUNCES THAT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES COULD BE SIGHTED IN THE COASTAL WATERS OFF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE, ALABAMA, AND MISSISSIPPI. PLEASE REPORT ALL RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS TO (877) WHALE-HELP OR TO THE COAST GUARD VIA VHF-FM CHANNEL 16. RIGHT WHALES ARE SLOW MOVING ANIMALS THAT ARE PRONE TO COLLISIONS WITH VESSELS. VESSEL OPERATORS ARE REMINDED TO USE CAUTION AROUND RIGHT WHALES AND OPERATE AT A SAFE SPEED. INTENTIONALLY APPROACHING RIGHT WHALES IS PROHIBITED AND MAY RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES MARINERS AVOID RIGHT WHALES BY AT LEAST 500 YARDS, THIS INCLUDES BOATS, DRONES, AND PADDLEBOATS. CANCEL AT//050500Z APR 25//
1. FIRING EXERCISES HAZARDOUS TO SURFACE VESSELS WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE FOLLOWING TIMES AND LOCATIONS IN THE VCOA DURING THE SUBJECT WEEK: A. CONTINUOUSLY IN THE DAM NECK FIRING AREA (DANGER AREA D-334.390), WARNING AREAS 50 A-C, AND RESTRICTED AREA R-6606. B. CONTINUOUSLY IN THE DAM NECK RIFLE IMPACT AREA (DANGER AREA D-334.380). C. CONTINUOUSLY IN D-334.410 (HARVEY POINT R-5301). D. 0700-2000 LOCAL MON-FRI BEGINNING AT 37-30.00N 075-34.50W TO 37-30.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-54.00W TO 37-03.00N 075-54.00W THEN 3 NM FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE SHORELINE THEN TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THIS AREA IS LOCATED WITHIN MILITARY OPERATING AREA W-386 (SURFACE GRID 6). E. CONTINUOUSLY BEGINNING AT 37-15.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-15.00N 074-30.00W TO 37-05.00N 074-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-30.00W THEN TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THIS AREA IS LOCATED WITHIN MILITARY OPERATING AREA W-386 (SURFACE GRIDS 7CD,8CD). F. CONTINUOUSLY BEGINNING AT 36-01.00N 075-00.00W TO 35-49.00N 074-28.00W TO 35-09.00N 074-28.00W TO 35-33.00N 075-00.00W THEN TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THIS AREA IS LOCATED WITHIN MILITARY OPERATING AREA W-72 (SURFACE GRIDS 3B1-3B4). G. VARIOUS FIRING EXERCISES HAZARDOUS TO SURFACE VESSELS: DATE TIME (LOCAL) SURFACE GRIDS AREA BOUND BY —- ———— ————- ————- 03-04 APR 1430-1830 1-3,4C,7AB,8AB,9AB, 38-15N7 075-06W8 10A,47-48 38-15N7 074-00W1 37-45N9 074-00W1 37-45N9 073-45W9 37-15N6 073-45W9 37-15N6 075-30W5 37-49N3 075-30W5 02-04 APR 1700-1900 2B1,2B2 36-24N5 075-00W2 36-20N1 074-30W4 36-05N4 074-30W4 36-14N4 075-00W2 2. HELICOPTER MINESWEEPING (MCM) OPERATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED DAILY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS BEGINNING AT 37-00.00N 075-55.00W TO 37-30.00N 075-34.00W TO 37-30.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-30.00W THENCE TO POINT OF BEGINNING AND BEGINNING AT 36-55.00N 075-55.00W TO 36-55.00N 075-30.00W TO 36-30.00N 075-30.00W TO 36-30.00N 075-47.00W THENCE TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THESE OPERATIONS INVOLVE LARGE NAVAL HELICOPTERS AT FLIGHT ALTITUDES OF 100 FEET OR LESS, TOWING SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE DEVICES AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 25 KNOTS. AN AREA OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXISTS WITHIN A 250 FOOT RADIUS AROUND THESE HELICOPTERS SUFFICIENT TO BLOW PEOPLE AND OBJECTS FROM EXPOSED DECKS AND CAPSIZE SMALL CRAFT. THE TOWED DEVICES MAY BE COMPLETELY INVISIBLE AND INCLUDE LARGE CABLES AND OBJECTS ON OR JUST BELOW THE SURFACE, STREAMING UP TO 1,200 FEET BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT. TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR MISHAP, MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO REMAIN WELL CLEAR OF THESE DANGER ZONES WHEN MCM OPERATIONS ARE ENCOUNTERED. 3. FOR SECTORS VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, BROADCAST UNTIL CANCELLED. CANCEL AT//070815Z APR 25//
QUOTE: NOAA FISHERIES ANNOUNCES THAT A VOLUNTARY VESSEL SPEED RESTRICTION ZONE UNDER THE RIGHT WHALE SLOW ZONE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT SOUTHWEST OF NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS TO PROTECT RIGHT WHALES. THIS RIGHT WHALE SLOW ZONE IS IN EFFECT THROUGH APRIL 15, 2025. NOAA REQUESTS MARINERS TO ROUTE AROUND THIS ZONE OR TRANSIT THROUGH IT AT TEN KNOTS OR LESS.
THE SOUTHWEST OF NANTUCKET SLOW ZONE AREA IS BOUNDED BY: 41 DEGREES 20 MINUTES NORTH, 40 DEGREES 40 MINUTES NORTH, 069 DEGREES 53 MINUTES WEST, 070 DEGREES 46 MINUTES WEST.
INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTARY VESSEL SPEED RESTRICTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT: HTTPS://WWW.FISHERIES.NOAA.GOV/NATIONAL/ENDANGERED-SPECIES-CONSERVATION/REDUCING-VESSEL-STRIKES-NORTH-ATLANTIC-RIGHT-WHALES. UNQUOTE CANCEL AT//160359Z APR 25//
NOAA FISHERIES ANNOUNCES THAT A VOLUNTARY VESSEL SPEED RESTRICTION ZONE UNDER THE RIGHT WHALE SLOW ZONE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT EAST OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND TO PROTECT RIGHT WHALES. THIS RIGHT WHALE SLOW ZONE IS IN EFFECT THROUGH APRIL 14, 2025. NOAA REQUESTS MARINERS TO ROUTE AROUND THIS ZONE OR TRANSIT THROUGH IT AT TEN KNOTS OR LESS.
THE EAST OF OCEAN CITY SLOW ZONE AREA IS BOUNDED BY: 38 DEGREES 38 MINUTES NORTH, 37 DEGREES 58 MINUTES NORTH, 074 DEGREES 13 MINUTES WEST, 075 DEGREES 04 MINUTES WEST.
INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTARY VESSEL SPEED RESTRICTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT: HTTPS://WWW.FISHERIES.NOAA.GOV/NATIONAL/ENDANGERED-SPECIES-CONSERVATION/REDUCING-VESSEL-STRIKES-NORTH-ATLANTIC-RIGHT-WHALES. CANCEL AT//032019Z APR 25//
1. FIRING EXERCISES HAZARDOUS TO SURFACE VESSELS WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE FOLLOWING TIMES AND LOCATIONS IN THE VCOA DURING THE SUBJECT WEEK: A. CONTINUOUSLY IN THE DAM NECK FIRING AREA (DANGER AREA D-334.390), WARNING AREAS 50 A-C, AND RESTRICTED AREA R-6606. B. CONTINUOUSLY IN THE DAM NECK RIFLE IMPACT AREA (DANGER AREA D-334.380). C. CONTINUOUSLY IN D-334.410 (HARVEY POINT R-5301). D. 0700-2000 LOCAL MON-FRI BEGINNING AT 37-30.00N 075-34.50W TO 37-30.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-54.00W TO 37-03.00N 075-54.00W THEN 3 NM FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE SHORELINE THEN TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THIS AREA IS LOCATED WITHIN MILITARY OPERATING AREA W-386 (SURFACE GRID 6). E. CONTINUOUSLY BEGINNING AT 37-15.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-15.00N 074-30.00W TO 37-05.00N 074-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-30.00W THEN TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THIS AREA IS LOCATED WITHIN MILITARY OPERATING AREA W-386 (SURFACE GRIDS 7CD,8CD). F. CONTINUOUSLY BEGINNING AT 36-01.00N 075-00.00W TO 35-49.00N 074-28.00W TO 35-09.00N 074-28.00W TO 35-33.00N 075-00.00W THEN TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THIS AREA IS LOCATED WITHIN MILITARY OPERATING AREA W-72 (SURFACE GRIDS 3B1-3B4). G. VARIOUS FIRING EXERCISES HAZARDOUS TO SURFACE VESSELS: DATE TIME (LOCAL) SURFACE GRIDS AREA BOUND BY —- ———— ————- ————- 02-05 APR 1430-1830 1-3,4C,7AB,8AB,9AB, 38-15N7 075-06W8 10A,47-48 38-15N7 074-00W1 37-45N9 074-00W1 37-45N9 073-45W9 37-15N6 073-45W9 37-15N6 075-30W5 37-49N3 075-30W5 02-04 APR 1700-1900 2B1,2B2 36-24N5 075-00W2 36-20N1 074-30W4 36-05N4 074-30W4 36-14N4 075-00W2 2. HELICOPTER MINESWEEPING (MCM) OPERATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED DAILY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS BEGINNING AT 37-00.00N 075-55.00W TO 37-30.00N 075-34.00W TO 37-30.00N 075-30.00W TO 37-00.00N 075-30.00W THENCE TO POINT OF BEGINNING AND BEGINNING AT 36-55.00N 075-55.00W TO 36-55.00N 075-30.00W TO 36-30.00N 075-30.00W TO 36-30.00N 075-47.00W THENCE TO POINT OF BEGINNING. THESE OPERATIONS INVOLVE LARGE NAVAL HELICOPTERS AT FLIGHT ALTITUDES OF 100 FEET OR LESS, TOWING SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE DEVICES AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 25 KNOTS. AN AREA OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXISTS WITHIN A 250 FOOT RADIUS AROUND THESE HELICOPTERS SUFFICIENT TO BLOW PEOPLE AND OBJECTS FROM EXPOSED DECKS AND CAPSIZE SMALL CRAFT. THE TOWED DEVICES MAY BE COMPLETELY INVISIBLE AND INCLUDE LARGE CABLES AND OBJECTS ON OR JUST BELOW THE SURFACE, STREAMING UP TO 1,200 FEET BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT. TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR MISHAP, MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO REMAIN WELL CLEAR OF THESE DANGER ZONES WHEN MCM OPERATIONS ARE ENCOUNTERED. 3. FOR SECTORS VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, BROADCAST UNTIL CANCELLED. CANCEL AT//070815Z APR 25//
ON APR 1, 2025 AND APR 4, 2025, FROM 1800Z TO 2200Z, THE U.S. AIR FORCE WILL CONDUCT MUNITION LAUNCHES IN THE GULF OF AMERICA (MEXICO). THE HAZARD AREAS ARE BOUND BY APPROXIMATE POSITIONS: HAZARD AREA 1: 30-17-22N 086-44-54W, 30-17-22N 086-39-42W, 30-12-52N 086-39-42W AND 30-12-52N 086-44-54W. HAZARD AREA 2: 30-02-18N 086-42-56W, 30-07-34N 086-36-52W, 30-07-34N 086-12-05W, 30-02-18N 086-06-00W, 29-54-52N 086-06-00W, 29-49-37N 086-12-05W, 29-49-37N 086-36-52W AND 29-54-52N 086-42-56W. VESSELS WILL MONITOR VHF-FM CHANNEL 16. MARINERS SHOULD AVOID THE HAZARD AREAS. CANCEL AT//042300Z APR 25//