New York To Require Boater Education to Prevent Whale Strikes
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York Whale Awareness Act, which required boater safety education on avoiding whale strikes, on Friday, Aug. 7 in a ceremony at the Montauk Point Lighthouse.
Pictured Above: Governor Hochul with local elected officials and conservationists at the Aug. 7 bill signing.
The bill, A.8515A/S.2292B, directs the state Department of Environmental Conservation to establish educational guidelines to help mariners reduce interactions with marine mammal and prevent vessel strikes in New York waters.
In recent years, there has been an increase in whale sightings off of New York’s coastline, which advocates say highlights the need for boater education.
In 2023, the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) documented 47 unique humpback whales, a record, off of Montauk but in 2024, they had to “reset the entire axis” of their graph, documenting 122 whales, according to a 2025 workshop led by CRESLI and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.
Rob DiGiovanni of AMCS said at that forum that his organization responded to 114 whale strandings between 2017 and 2024. Twenty-three of those whales were alive, and the organization was able to necropsies on 78 of them. Of those necropsies, 45 causes of death were suspected to be due to human interaction, 32 of which were suspected vessel strikes.
At the 2025 forum, Rob DiGiovanni of AMCS said it’s important to remember, if you encounter marine mammals in local waters, to stay at least 100 yards away from large whales, and at least 50 yards away from dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions.
Dr. Artie Kopelman of CRESLI added that the most crucial thing is to slow down.
“Right whales can’t move faster than four knots, but humpbacks can,” he said. “But (by slowing down) you can give them time to get away.”
According to the governor’s office, the legislation “integrates whale-safe boating education directly into existing state boater safety courses and vessel registration processes. By equipping boaters with standard best practices and collision-prevention techniques, the initiative aims to encourage safer navigation habits and prevent accidental injuries and deaths among local marine life, including humpback whales and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.”
“New York’s ocean waters are cleaner and more vibrant than they have been in decades, drawing extraordinary marine life back to our shores,” said Governor Hochul. “However, a higher concentration of whales navigating one of the busiest regions in the country creates serious risks for both boaters and marine mammal populations. The New York Whale Awareness Act ensures that everyone enjoying our state’s waterways has the tools and knowledge needed to navigate safely, avoid dangerous collisions and protect these special creatures.”
State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni cosponsored the bill.
“Our ocean waters have never been cleaner, and our fish stocks are improving year over year, leading to increased whale sightings,” he said in the governor’s announcement of the signing. “I am proud to support this initiative which will create safer interactions with marine life and protect everyone on the water.”
“Our region is deeply connected to our ocean waters and the marine life that lives there. Our culture, our heritage, and our livelihoods are intertwined with the Atlantic Ocean,” said Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker in the governor’s announcement of the signing. “This legislation providing education and awareness on marine safety and interaction with marine life will benefit our communities as we learn better ways to share, protect, and live with our natural environment.”
“There is something truly special about seeing whales breaching just off our shores. It reminds us how fortunate we are to call East Hampton home, and how important it is that we care for the waters we share,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “The New York Whale Awareness Act will give boaters practical information to help protect marine mammals and prevent dangerous encounters on the water.”
“In Montauk, where whale sightings have become a special part of our community’s character, we have a shared responsibility to protect these magnificent animals,” said Concerned Citizens of Montauk Executive Director Kay Tyler. “The Whale Awareness Act recognizes that conservation begins with education, and that informed boaters can play an important role in reducing harm and helping ensure these iconic species continue to thrive in New York’s waters.”
