The Associated Press reports on CNN.com, that in an effort to help conserve a slow-moving species of whale that inhabits the Atlantic coast, the U.S. is telling ships to slow down.

Starting in December, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ordered 11.5-mph speed limit for ships 65 feet or longer. Within 23 miles of major mid-Atlantic ports, where the North Atlantic right whale breeds, feeds and migrates, ships must slow down.

The original proposition incurred a 34-mile area, which was downsized after questions from the White House were raised about the link between ship speed and whale death.

Since 1970, the North Atlantic right whale has been on the endangered species list. Despite preventative actions, including warning systems and aerial surveys to locate whales in shipping lanes, there remain only an estimated 300-400 whales in the wild. The main threat to the whales is currently ship strikes, which account for roughly 1-2 whale deaths per year, according to federal officials.

The upcoming speed limit will be the first put in place to protect a species on the Atlantic coast and will apply to most commercial ships, including ferries, cruise liners and even whale-watching vessels. It is estimated that it has the potential to cost the shipping industry millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to a federal analysis put out earlier this year.

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