If you’ve spotted a whale breaching while catching some rays at Rockaway Beach this summer, it isn’t your imagination. The number of whales swimming off New York’s coastline has exploded over the past few years, and a newly signed state law is changing the rules of the water to prioritize their safety.
The legislation, dubbed the New York Whale Awareness Act, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on August 7, 2026. It establishes comprehensive educational guidelines designed to reduce marine mammal interactions and prevent vessel strikes.
In other words, boaters will have to learn new rules before gassing up and sailing out on New York waters…