Governor Healey Opposes NOAA Vessel Speed Restrictions

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has added her voice to those opposing the federal government's proposed vessel speed restrictions that are intended to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales but could have devastating effects on Nantucket's economy.

In a Dec. 23rd letter to Richard Spinrad, the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Healey stated the proposed rule "would not meaningfully increase protection for this endangered species but would have devastating impacts on residents and businesses on Cape Cod and the Islands."

Healey's letter cites an economic impact analysis completed by the UMass Donahue Institute that concluded Nantucket's economy would take a $286 million hit every year and lose as many as 1,500 jobs due to reductions in ferry service if the vessel speed restriction is implemented. The Nantucket Select Board, which commissioned and paid for the analysis, sent the findings to Healey last month with an urgent plea for assistance.

Just days later, Healey answered the call with her letter to NOAA.

"We remain committed to these conservation efforts and are concerned that the proposed speed rule is not supported with adequate evidence of the protection of right whales," Healey wrote. "Our coastal communities recognize and value NOAA’s scientific and conservation leadership. I urge NOAA to consider further revisions to the proposed rule or provide exemptions for Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds."

For more than two years, Nantucket's ferry operators, fishermen, and municipal officials have been sounding the alarm about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) proposed vessel speed restriction to protect North Atlantic right whales along the East Coast. The rule would require most vessels over 35 feet to travel at speeds of 10 knots or less in an area stretching from Massachusetts to North Carolina from Nov. 1 through May 30. That restriction would effectively end fast ferry travel to and from Nantucket.

Despite the objections from Nantucket, the proposed rule remains pending and earlier this year NOAA recommended to the Office of Management and Budget that the restriction be implemented, moving it to the final stage in the federal review process.

Earlier this year, the Select Board and the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission paid the UMass Donahue Institute $43,000 to complete the economic analysis of the impact of the proposed rule on Nantucket's economy.

"Changes in ferry service would result in a loss of commuters, visitors, and outbound trade," the study concluded. "The total impact of these changes would be a reduction of approximately $286 million of economic activity and 1,500 jobs before accounting for any additional losses due to supply chain constraints and other disruptions. This amounts to roughly 11 percent of Nantucket’s current economy and workforce."

Beyond shutting down fast ferry service to Nantucket, the rule would also force the Steamship Authority's traditional car and freight ferries to operate at slower speeds, reducing the number of daily round trips to the island from three to two.

"As a result, the daily volume of people, vehicles, food, consumer goods, medicine, construction materials, fuel, and solid waste could be reduced by a third," the report states. "Using data from IMPLAN, we estimate that $112 million of goods are at risk due to the change in cargo capacity, or roughly 17 percent of the island’s total goods trade. Of this amount, $94.5 million is inbound and $17.8 million is outbound."