A recent report by the conservation organization Oceana has confirmed that hundreds of boats were speeding in the Virginia Beach area prior to the death of an endangered whale.
The whale was found washed up on the beach on February 12th, between Lesner Bridge and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Biologists say that boat strikes are the biggest threats to whales and that vessels not following required low speed limits and certain shipping channels, as mandated by NOAA, pose a significant danger.
Oceana’s report states that nearly 7 out of 10 boats larger than 65 feet long traveled above 10 knots, which is a violation of the regulations.
The full report can be accessed through the link provided on wavy.com.
