US Congress receives marine technology briefing

Members of the US House and Senate received a first-hand education about existing technologies that could help reduce the risk of vessel strikes to the North Atlantic right whale (NARW) and other marine mammals during a briefing and technology showcase held Thursday on Capitol Hill as part of a move to prevent a 10kt speed restriction of boats over 35ft proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“What we were looking to accomplish through the technology showcase was not a direct conversation about vessel speeds or what NOAA is putting on the table. It was solely and primarily to highlight and talk about the sophistication of marine technologies today and that they are here today,” National Marine Manufacturers Association VP of Government Relations Callie Hoyt told IBI on Friday.

There is a growing sentiment among all stakeholders in the conservation efforts that technology is a better solution than the rule as proposed, which NMMA and other industry groups say will have a draconian economic effect on coastal communities and the marine industry.

“The rule that is on the table has a minor mention of technology – that down the road the technologies can come into the equation of management for NARW but the agency drastically underestimated where those technologies stand today,” Hoyt explained. “The rule that is on the table has a minor mention of technology – that down the road the technologies can come into the equation of management for NARW but the agency drastically underestimated where those technologies stand today.”

Members of Congress and their staffs, along with White House and key agency personnel, participated in a briefing and technology demonstrations from Viking Yachts, the National Marine Electronics Association, Fathom Science Maritime Information Systems, Garmin, Navico, Whale Seeker, and SEA.AI.

Hoyt said the event was well attended and the information well received as there appears to be growing sentiment among all stakeholders that technological solutions to conservation management exist today.

“The technologies that can be retooled and used to solve this very complex conservation challenge are here today and it is just a matter of collaboration between NOAA, the Coast Guard, and other key federal stakeholders with the industry to truly explore what that pathway forward is.”

The NOAA NARW vessel speed rule is currently under review by the White House office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine if the economic impact of the proposal was adequately measured, which the industry believes were grossly underestimated.