Coast Guard looking for violations of rules protecting whales off of Virginia coast

VIRGINIA (AP)- The U.S. Coast Guard is looking out for violations of rules designed to protect a rare species of whale from collisions with ships.

Coast Guard Sector Virginia said it has become aware of “potential violations of the North Atlantic right whale ship strike reduction speed restrictions in place for the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. ” The whales number less than 400 and they are vulnerable to ship strikes.

The Coast Guard said vessels that are 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less when they come within 20 nautical miles of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay between Nov. 1 and April 30.

The whales come north in the spring to feed and are often seen off New England and Canada.

.