Enacts the whale awareness act

Whale safety info for New York boaters

The law creates the Whale Awareness Act and defines unsafe interactions with whales and other marine mammals. The environmental agency develops and posts guidance online to help boaters avoid harming marine mammals, working with NOAA, the Coast Guard, and state partners. Party and charter boat owners and operators get these materials. People in the required boating safety course get them too. Starting December 31, 2028, DMV includes the materials with vessel registrations in Suffolk, Nassau, Kings, Queens, New York, Richmond, Bronx, Westchester, and Rockland counties. Most parts take effect 180 days after the law became effective.