Canada’s government has announced several measures to help protect highly endangered North Atlantic right whales in upcoming commercial fishing seasons, keeping some protections in place and adding a few new actions to help reduce entanglements and vessel strikes.
“The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered animals on the planet, and we have a responsibility to act. Canada’s protocols are in place, and our whale-safe fishing gear pilots are showing real results. We can protect this whale and support our harvesters,” Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a release.
North Atlantic right whales are highly endangered, with the population estimated at just over 380 individuals. According to NOAA Fisheries, in the U.S., vessel strikes and entanglements are the biggest threats to their survival and recovery.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has renewed its voluntary shallow water whale-safe gear pilot for another three years. The program allows commercial fishers to continue harvesting in shallow waters that would otherwise be closed due to the presences of North Atlantic right whales as long as they use innovative gear, including breakaway gear that reduces entanglement risks. In February, Canada unveiled its Whale-Safe Gear Strategy to help promote the use of pop-up fishing gear.
This season, DFO will also issue advisories about right whale detections, even if those detections do not trigger a fishery closure or other measure. The government said the move is intended to provide fishers better information on what to do if they encounter the whales.
For the 10th straight year, Transport Canada will implement vessel traffic measures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including a 10-knot speed limit that applies to all vessels 13 meters or longer and dynamic slowdowns that will react to right whale detections. That will go into effect 22 April. Transport Canada will also work with the Canada Coast Guard to encourage vessels to slow down in the Bay of Fundy when right whales are detected in busy areas.
“The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whale. We are reducing risks to these whales while supporting safe and efficient marine transportation. Safeguarding our oceans is a shared responsibility, and we will keep working to ensure this species has the conditions it needs to recover,” Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Steven MacKinnon said in a release.
