On August 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published proposed amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule (50 CFR 224.105) to further protect endangered right whales from vessel collisions. If adopted, most vessels greater than 35 feet in length would become subject to the mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less in designated areas of the ocean. The amendments would expand the boundaries of the seasonal speed restriction areas of the East Coast and extend the timeframe in which they are in effect each year. Given that the areas subject to the speed restrictions include waters off the coast of Massachusetts from Cape Ann to Buzzards Bay, and south of Rhode Island and Long Island, most vessels operating in those waters, including ferries, cargo ships, fishing vessels, passenger ships, and vessels servicing the new offshore wind industry, would have to comply. The main proposed changes are briefly described below, and can be found on the Federal Register webpage.