Twelve North Atlantic right whales have been spotted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the same busy channel where the critically-endangered species suffered catastrophic deaths last summer.
The whale sightings, confirmed by the federal government on Thursday, May 24, led to the closure of six fishing zones in the gulf. Another nine zones, including snow crab, rock crab and lobster fisheries, were closed on Wednesday, May 30 as the whales moved through waters off the coast of New Brunswick.
Last year, a record-breaking 18 right whales were killed in Canadian and U.S. waters, with autopsies confirming ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear as the primary causes. It is estimated that there are fewer than 450 of the iconic whales left in the world.
After extensive consultation throughout the winter, the Department of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced a series of measures to protect right whales this summer, including:
- Imposing a mandatory speed restriction from April 28 until Nov. 15 for vessels 20 metres or longer to a maximum of 10 knots when travelling in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence;
- A 15-day mandatory slowdown of 10 knots will be activated within a section of the shipping lanes when one North Atlantic right whale is spotted, and can be extended as needed.
- Introducing temporary and fixed fisheries management areas and closures where right whales are observed; and,
- Increasing aerial and at-sea surveillance to detect whales.
Dr. Charles ‘Stormy’ Mayo has studied the North Atlantic right whale for more than three decades. He told the CBC earlier this month that he believes there are about 430 right whales left in the world.
Sadly, last year’s historical death toll isn’t the only concerning factor in this story. Normally, an average of 20-30 right whales are born each year. That number has been declining since 2010, however, and no new calves were born this year.
“That’s a critical part of the equation. It’s not just an issue of ship strikes and entanglement. Obviously if the population is not reproducing, the future is very grim,” Mayo said.
He said the causes of declining birth rates are not yet well understood, but may be due to changes in the whales’ ecosystems, such as a decrease in their food supply or pollution in their food, illness in the population or genetic stresses, or the “unknown, but likely substantial” impact of noise pollution from tanker traffic and oil drilling operations.
“These are acoustic animals, and perhaps lacking a calm ocean, they are simply not able to find one another,” Mayo said. “It’s a very troubling part of the story … Most of us are truly worried right now.”
A 2015 report from your Conservation Council cited peer-reviewed research which showed noise from tanker traffic causes heightened levels of stress in right whales, forcing them to ‘shout’ over tanker engines and effectively making communication between whales impossible when noise reaches a certain level.
The fisheries closures has caused concern among lobster and snow crab fishers in New Brunswick, who worry them may not catch their annual quota.
On this, Mayo stressed patience and understanding, saying he believes fishing restrictions could lighten once the government has a better understanding of the whales’ behaviour.
“Yes, it is troubling for the fishermen who are trying to make a living, yet it is a measure I believe ultimately is in the benefit of the fishermen, because neither the fishermen nor the whales can afford more mortalities. If there are more mortalities, that will probably mean more strict regulations,” he said.
We will bring you more on this story as it develops.
Recommended links:
- Minister announces latest measures to protect right whales
- New measures to help right whales’ safe passage
- North Atlantic Right Whale death toll reaches 17
- Tanker strikes leading cause of right whale deaths: report
- What’s happening to the right whale?
- How can you help the right whale?
- Update: Feds order tankers to slow down in Gulf of St. Lawrence
- Canada, U.S. launch investigation into right whale deaths