North Atlantic Right Whale Seasonal Management Areas (SMA) Map & GIS Data

North Atlantic right whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The purpose of SMAs is to reduce the likelihood of deaths and serious injuries to these endangered whales that result from collisions with ships.

These maps and corresponding Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefile data represent SMAs for North Atlantic right whale in the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region and Southeast Region. The Federal Register (see FR link below) should be consulted for the precise legal definition of the management areas and geographic coordinates. Esri's ArcGIS software or Google Earth can be used to open GIS shapefiles. Google Earth can also be used to open zipped KML (KMZ) files to view the designated management areas. Click here to download Google Earth. Metadata (information about the GIS shapefile data) is available in XML or an easy-to-read HTML format.

79 FR 34245 Implement Vessel Speed Restrictions to Reduce the Threat of Ship Collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales

For more information or questions about this data please contact the GIS Coordinator at nmfs.ser.gis.coordinator@noaa.gov.