While efforts are underway to locate a recently spotted entangled North Atlantic right whale in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, a national environmental group says more needs to be done to protect the critically endangered mammal.
According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the entangled whale, identified as a 38-year-old male named Meridian, was spotted June 30 in the waters between Quebec’s Iles-de-la-Madeleine and New Brunswick’s Miscou Island.
The department says it’s unclear what type of gear the whale is entangled in or where the gear came from.
DFO says Meridian was previously seen on February 11 off the coast of Massachusetts.
Simon L’Allier, coordinator of marine mammals at the Sierra Club Canada Foundationhe says this is the fifth time Meridian has gotten entangled, something he says will continue to happen to all marine life as long as there are still fishing gear in the ocean.
“We’re going to continue to see these events, whether it’s in Canadian or US waters. This is something that happens at a rate of about four per year, so it is not surprising that it has happened and will continue to happen,” she said. L’Allier.
According to L’Allier, 83 percent of the North Atlantic right whale population has been entangled at least once. Of them, 59 percent have been entangled more than once.
The Sierra Club Canada Foundation is now calling for emergency measures to protect North Atlantic right whales.
According to the group, the whale safety equipment was supposed to be ready for this year’s fishing season. However, Canada delayed full implementation until 2023, five years after the mass mortality event in 2017, when 17 North Atlantic right whales died.
“With less than 350 people remaining, these messes must stop. We need increased investment and rapid deployment of equipment that does not entangle whales if we want this species to survive. Otherwise, it is very likely that the North Atlantic right whale will become extinct under our watch,” L’Allier said.
After the sighting, area closures were established throughout the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which according to L’Allier last about 15 days.
“If the whale is seen again during the 15 days, they will do a seasonal closure of the area,” L’Allier explained. “That should be good news, but the problem is that you have to see the whale first before you can do these closures, and these whales can get entangled even before we detect them in the area.”
“The other issue is with these area closures, if it continues to happen and with climate change, they will continue to move north into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, so if we have more whales in the Gulf, what will happen?” what does it mean for fishermen? Are we going to have the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence closed for the summer to protect right whales? That would be great for the species, but what about the fishermen and their livelihood? ”
The environmental group hopes there will be no further delays in implementing whale-safe equipment in the Gulf of St. Lawrence bioregion, something it says will make a big difference.
“The Gulf of St. Lawrence is a magnificent shared ecosystem, home to some of the world’s most iconic seascapes and fishing and tourism industries. As the northern home of the critically endangered right whale, it is also key evidence of Canada’s commitment to biodiversity and protecting marine life,” said Gretchen Fitzgerald, director of national programs for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation. “Our hope is that protecting these whales will also create momentum to restore the Gulf as a whole.”
This is the second North Atlantic right whale entanglement reported in Canada this year. DFO says it continues to monitor Sundog, a 14-year-old female seen entangled on May 19, east of Gaspé, Que.
There are about 336 North Atlantic right whales, many of which spend their summers feeding in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
With archives from The Canadian Press.