The administration of President George W. Bush wants to limit ship speed to 10 knots (18.5 kilometers per hour) off several US ports.

In an apparent concession to the shipping industry, however, the government limited the slow speed zone to 20 nautical miles (37 km) from the coast, down from the 30 nautical miles (55.6 kilometers) it first proposed in 2006.

The speed limit proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would only apply for certain periods of the year.

The rule unveiled Monday must undergo a period of public comment.

Only about 300 North Atlantic right whales remain and scientists say their population has been reduced by collisions with large ships.

"NOAA is looking forward to taking a significant step in our efforts to protect right whales," said NOAA administrator Conrad Lautenbacher.

"Our scientific analysis shows that a 10-knot speed limit in critical areas will significantly reduce the threat to these endangered marine mammals," he said.

But environmentalists lamented that the government reduced the proposed size of the slow speed zone.

"It's disappointing that it cannot be all that it could be," said Amy Knowlton, researcher at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

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