The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will impose a 10-knot speed limit for large boats crossing the Florida waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The 10-knot speed limit violations by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are a felony punishable by a $20,000 fine and up to one-year imprisonment.

Several industry groups said the new speed limit set by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration exceeds the authority of the federal agency

Last Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a petition to impose the new speed limit.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration petition argues the new speed limit they impose will protect the endangered Rice’s whale. The petition was submitted by a coalition of six environmental foundations to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2021.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration petition invoked the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will implement a mandatory 10-knot speed limit on large boats sized 65 feet or longer. The ten knots speed limit is similar to 11.5 miles per hour on land area.

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The NMFS will decide whether to proceed with the suggested rulemaking by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The proposal of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was illegal and unconstitutional, and that no sufficient evidence that the new law would protect the whales, said the Southeastern Legal Foundation.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) also opposed the limit set by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saying it would threaten the $170 billion industry and lose thousands of jobs.

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