Aerial and habitat surveys on April 11, 2008 revealed an unprecedented number of right whales in Cape Cod Bay. With the unusual number of whales, their intensive feeding activities, and their movement over much of the Bay, all of Cape Cod Bay should be considered a High Risk Area for right whales. Vessel operators are strongly urged to reduce speed (less than 10 knots), post lookouts, and proceed with caution to avoid colliding with this highly endangered whale.

Vessels are prohibited by state and federal law from approaching within 500 yards of a right whale. Massachusetts Environmental Police and U.S. Coast Guard are authorized to enforce the 500- yard rule. Fishermen are reminded that the approach rule also prohibits them from starting fishing operations (setting or hauling gear) within 500 yards of a right whale.

We forecast that the conditions of high risk will continue for the next week and that the area of greatest risk of collision lies east of a line between Manomet and Race Point, Provincetown. When right whales depart the area, the advisory will be lifted.

Whales that are surface and subsurface feeding on dense blooms of zooplankton (copepods) are at great risk for vessel strike. More vessel traffic is expected in this area over the next few weeks with seasonal increases in recreational and commercial fishing, as well as whale watching, and passenger ship activity. Right whales are the most endangered large whale in the North Atlantic, with a population of approximately 400 animals. Vessel strike is a major cause of human-induced mortality for right whales.

Management of maritime activities near right whales is part of the MarineFisheries Right Whale Conservation Program. The Right Whale Conservation Program is a cooperative effort between MarineFisheries and the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) to study and protect right whales in Cape Cod Bay.

Real-time monitoring of right whales through vessel and aerial–based surveillance, and forecasting of right whale presence through habitat analysis, makes the Massachusetts Right Whale Conservation Program the most comprehensive of any program throughout the species’ range. The presence of whales is also being monitored by MarineFisheries and Cornell University researchers through real-time acoustic listening stations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) issues warnings to mariners via the Northern Right Whale Sighting Advisory System (SAS). Participating agencies in the SAS include MarineFisheries and the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), CCS, and other research groups. Advisories can be viewed at the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region web site (http://rwhalesightings.nefsc.noaa.gov) and are broadcast over NOAA weather radio (http:// 205.156.54.206/nwr/).

For more information, visit the MarineFisheries website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries or contact Erin Burke (Erin.Burke@state.ma.us, 978 551-0152) or Dan McKiernan (dan.mckiernan@state.ma.us, 617 626-1536). Center for Coastal Studies (www.coastal studies.org) right whale researchers Dr. Charles (Stormy) Mayo and Dr. Nathalie Jaquet can be reached at (508) 487-3623.