Murphy Celebrates NOAA's Withdrawal of the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement in response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) withdrawing its proposed amendment to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule.

"For over two years, I fought vigorously against the Biden Administration’s unscientific and ridiculously burdensome North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. With their statement of retraction, I welcome its long-overdue withdrawal," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "The Biden Administration pushed this rule even though it knew that the vessels it targeted were not responsible for the death of Right Whales. Regardless they pushed it on to the bitter end. Eastern North Carolina understands the importance of being good stewards of our environment while utilizing our God-given resources to help grow our economy and provide for our families. This is a tremendous victory for our fishermen, boaters, and countless businesses in our coastal economy who would have been devastated if this rule went into effect." 

Background
The withdrawn, proposed amendment to the rule would have expanded compliance of the mandatory 10-knot speed restrictions in Seasonal Management Areas, resulting in 121,061 additional transit hours annually. Across the Eastern Seaboard, nearly 16,000 vessels, 810,000 jobs, and $230 billion in economic activity would have been impacted.