Cape Cod Bay Seasonal Management Area in Effect January 1 - May 15, 2026

NOAA Fisheries announces the annual opening of a Seasonal Management Area (SMA) in Cape Cod Bay to protect North Atlantic right whales starting on January 1, 2026. All vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in this area to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with these endangered whales. The Cape Cod Bay SMA is in effect through May 15, 2026.

Because vessels of all sizes can strike and injure a right whale, NOAA Fisheries also encourages vessels less than 65 feet in length to slow down to 10 knots or less within active SMAs.

Includes all waters of Cape Cod Bay with Northern Boundary of 42º04'56.5"N, 070º12'W to 42º12'N, 070º12'W then due west back to shore.

Please visit our website for more information.

Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect for most vessels 65 feet or longer in the following areas:

Mid-Atlantic: November 1-April 30

Southeast: November 15-April 15

North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the United  States. To protect right whales, regulations prohibit approaching or remaining within 500 yards (1,500 feet) of a right whale. That’s the length of about five football fields.

Endangered North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction. There are approximately 380 individuals remaining, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females. Human impacts continue to threaten the survival of this species.

In August 2017, NOAA Fisheries declared the increase in right whale mortalities an Unusual Mortality Event, which helps the agency direct additional scientific and financial resources to investigating, understanding, and reducing the mortalities. This work is done in partnership with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and outside experts from the scientific research community.

All boaters from Maine to Florida, or interested parties, can sign up for email or text notifications about the latest Right Whale Slow Zones. You can also follow us on Facebook (@NOAAFisheriesNEMA) and X (@NOAAFish_GARFO and @NOAAFisheriesSE) for announcements.

Share our video on Right Whale Slow Zones.

Email and text notification settings can now be filtered to include Right Whale Slow Zone announcements from specific regions. Access your subscriber preferences to update your existing notifications.