COURTESY OF NOAA FISHERIES
Endangered North Atlantic right whales
PORTLAND, MAINE (AP) — The federal government is close to releasing new rules that the shipping industry might have to comply with to help protect a vanishing species of whale.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has spent a few years reviewing the vessel speed rules it uses to protect North Atlantic right whales.
The whales number less than 340 and they are vulnerable to collisions with large ships.
A NOAA spokesperson recently said that the agency anticipates that it will publish proposed rules within the coming weeks. A public comment process would follow.
BY PATRICK WHITTLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS.
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