What's New List Serve Post Display

The purpose of this list serve notice is to assist the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) broadcast an
advisory concerning populations of endangered whales off the
coast of Southern California.   NOAA has requested and the
California Air Resources Board has agreed to provide outreach
through the Maritime List Serve to help broadcast the NOAA
advisory to mariners.  

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – WHALES– POINT ARGUELLO TO DANA POINT
NOAA recommends that vessels transiting the area between Point
Arguello and Dana Point, including the Traffic Separation Schemes
in the Santa Barbara Channel and San Pedro Channel, from May
through November, should exercise caution and reduce speed. 
These areas contain populations of endangered blue, humpback and
fin whales.  Collisions with these animals resulting in their
injury or death is a violation of the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1538 et seq.), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.), and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.).

NOAA strongly recommends that vessels 300 gross registered tons
or larger transiting the Santa Barbara Channel traffic separation
scheme in the area between Sandy Point, Santa Rosa Island and
Point Hueneme do so at speeds not in excess of 10 knots due to
whales in this area.   

A chart of the Southern California Whale Advisory Zone can be
found at:
low resolution version (for faster loading):
http://www.arb.ca.gov/ports/marinevess/documents/slowspeed_waz31jul2012_lores.jpg
or a high resolution version
http://www.arb.ca.gov/ports/marinevess/documents/slowspeed_waz31jul2012.jpg

Additional information from NOAA can be found at:
http://channelislands.noaa.gov/focus/alert.html and
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/protect/shipstrike/welcome.html

Please report any collisions with whales or any observed injured
or dead whales, including the time and position, to NOAA at
877-SOS-WHALe (877-767-9425) or to the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF
Channel 16.