Tommy Hancock Speaks Out About NOAA Speed Rules & Their Devastating Effects On The Economy

Tommy Hancock, owner and founder of Sportsman Boats, speaks out on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) proposal to expand a speed limit rule aimed at protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Despite his extensive experience boating and fishing along South Carolina’s coast, Hancock has never seen one of these whales. He supports conservation but argues that NOAA's plan to limit boats 35 feet and over to 10 knots (11 mph) is impractical and dangerous. He highlights several concerns:

1. Economic Impact: South Carolina's coastal recreation economy, valued at $6.5 billion and supporting 29,000 jobs annually, would suffer greatly.

2. Safety Risks: Low-speed limits in the open sea increase the risk of capsizing, limit maneuverability, and reduce visibility, particularly in bad weather.

3. Enforcement Issues: The rule allows for hefty fines based on outdated data, likened to receiving a speeding ticket based on two-year-old GPS data.

4. Lack of Evidence: In over 50 years, only one serious whale strike has been recorded off South Carolina’s coast, none involving boats between 35 and 65 feet. Most fatal strikes involve much larger vessels.

Hancock calls the rule a "blunt instrument" that lacks scientific backing and fails to differentiate between small recreational boats and large ships. He urges NOAA to collaborate with the boating and fishing industries to find technologically advanced solutions for whale protection, emphasizing the need to balance conservation efforts with the economic and safety concerns of coastal communities.

To read the full article from The Post and Courier CLICK HERE.