France’s CMA CGM shipping line has deployed its first buoys aiding in the protection of endangered North Atlantic right whales from ships strikes along the U.S. East Coast.
The carrier entered into a partnership in March with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for the undertaking.
With funding from CMA CGM, WHOI researchers sought to assemble and deploy two near real-time passive acoustic monitoring buoys off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia and Savannah, Georgia, in the proximity of two large U.S. ports.
The second of the two buoys was deployed this week approximately 39 miles off the coast of Savannah. The first arrived on location off Norfolk in July.
The latest estimates indicate there are under 350 remaining right whales, with less than 100 reproductively active females.
NOAA Fisheries recently announced proposed changes to vessel speed regulations to bolster protection of North Atlantic right whales from collision.
(Photo CMA CGM)
