Federal officials say they have a plan to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales amid increasing interest in potential offshore wind development. The Gulf of Maine is being eyed as a possible development ground.
A new plan from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management suggests that offshore wind projects should not be leased in places where major impacts to right whales might occur.
Potential wind energy areas for the Gulf of Maine haven't been finalized. But the federal agencies say that if development does move ahead in the Gulf, it could occur in an area that's a critical habitat for right whales.
The plans also call for the use of artificial intelligence and passive acoustic monitoring to keep track of the population and its health, and the creation of noise limits during offshore wind construction.
There are about 350 right whales remaining. The agencies said that climate change is affecting every aspect of the whales' ability to survive, including their migratory patterns, availability of prey and risks of entanglement or being struck by a vessel.
