Question Period Note: North Atlantic Right Whale

North Atlantic Right Whale

The Government of Canada continues to take action to protect and recover the endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW).

We are focused on preventing entanglements by getting fishing gear out of the water where and when right whales are detected and taking action to address lost or derelict gear (ghost gear).

While we are encouraged that our measures are working and there were no deaths in Canadian waters in the last two years, we remain concerned for the species given its low abundance and will continue to work with our partners within Canada and the United States to ensure sufficient protections for the species throughout its range.

• To protect NARW’s from further harm, in 2017, the Government of Canada put urgent measures in To protect NARW’s from further harm, in 2017, the Government of Canada put urgent measures in place for these whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In 2018 and 2019, Fisheries and Oceans Canada implemented a season long area closure (referred to as the “static zone”) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for Snow crab and lobster fisheries (and all other non tended fixed gear fisheries) during the crab and lobster fishing seasons. However, aggregations of whales have been observed outside of the static zones during 2018 and 2019, with aggregations occurring at different times and in different locations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence each year. As such, during the past two years, large portions of the static area proved to have limited value in protecting the whales.
• In 2021, targeted right whale surveillance efforts resumed on April 12. The first right whale was detected on April 25, 2021 by the DFO Science Cessna. Acoustic monitoring devices became operational as of May 15, 2021.
• Modified fisheries management measures for 2021:
o This year, a right whale will need to be visually or acoustically detected again in the closed area during days 9-15 of the closure before an extension is triggered. In the Bay of Fundy and Critical Habitats in the Roseway and Grand Manan basins, if a whale is detected again during days 9-15, a temporary closure of an additional 15 days will be applied. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence (including around Anticosti Island, the Cabot Strait, as well as the Straight of Belle-Isle), if a whale is detected again in a closed area during days 9-15, a season-long closure will be implemented; the area will remain closed until November 15, 2021.
o If a whale is not detected again in a closed area during days 9-15, the area will re-open to fishing after day 15. Two flights with no right whale detections will continue to be required before an area can re-open to fishing. If flights are unable to go out during days 9-15 (e.g. due to poor weather conditions), the area will remain closed until two flights can safely take place to indicate whether whales are likely no longer in the area.
o A technical working group of harvesters, right whale experts, and departmental officials will meet regularly throughout the year to discuss ongoing right whale fisheries management issues in Canadian waters.
• As announced in February 2020, the Department will continue working with partners and industry in Atlantic Canada and Quebec to identify gear solutions for preventing injury to right whales. The specific gear modifications are expected to vary by region and fishery, but the requirements will be the same for all non-tended, fixed-gear fisheries: low breaking strength rope or links must be incorporated by the end of 2022.
• The Department is also continuing with comprehensive efforts from 2019 and 2020, such as:
o Season-long closure protocol in the Gulf of St. Lawrence;
o Dynamic closure protocol in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bay of Fundy, and critical habitat areas (Grand Manan Basin and Roseway Basin);
o Case by case measures to address sightings of 3 whale or more aggregations or a mother and calf anywhere in Atlantic Canada and Quebec that is not subject to temporary closure areas and critical habitat;
o Maintaining targeted provisions for waters shallower than 20 fathoms (36.5 metres or 120 feet);
o Focused surveillance using acoustic underwater technology (hydrophones), aircraft and vessels to confirm the presence of whales;
o Continuing to monitor vessel locations and movement to ensure compliance with the measures;
o Mandatory gear marking requirements for all non-tended fixed gear fisheries, including lobster and crab, in Atlantic Canada and Quebec;
o Maintaining measures to minimize the amount of rope in the water and to more effectively track rope and buoys;
o Maintaining mandatory reporting for lost gear and interactions with marine mammals; and,
o Supporting industry trials of innovative fishing technologies, including authorizing the use of rope less fishing gear in some closed areas this year, and other methods to prevent and/or mitigate whale entanglement.
• Since 2018, DFO has invested over $5.7 million to further enhance the Marine Mammal Response Program, which responds to marine mammals in distress, including disentanglement of NARWs. This funding is part of the $167.4 million Whales Initiative in Budget 2018.
• As of September 24, 2021, 105 Grids (including 20 portion of grids) or approximately 22,512.73 km2 were closed for the season. There were 50 Grids (including 16 portion of grids) or approximately 10.002.95 km2 temporarily closed within the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bay of Fundy, and Roseway Basin.
• As of September 24, 2021, there have been 1379 recorded detections of right whales (does not represent individual whales).
• In October 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a new preliminary estimate of the NARW population: 366 right whales estimated in January 2019, which is significantly lower than previously thought.
• The NARW was listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as Endangered in 2005. It is predicted the species could become extinct in 30 years if the morality rate is not significantly reduced.
• The 2021 Action Plan for the NARW was finalized and published on the Public Registry in spring 2021. The Action Plan addresses all threats identified in the species’ Recovery Strategy, including vessel collisions, entanglement in fishing gear, disturbance from vessel presence, noise, contaminants, habitat degradation, and changes in food supply.
• Snowcone was first spotted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on May 10, 2021 by DFO.
o The entanglement is not new - the whale was previously seen entangled off Cape Cod, Massachusetts in March 2021.
o DFO teams in the air and on the water were able to re-locate the whale on May 11 approximately 45 km east of Miscou Island, since it was first spotted.
o The Campobello Whale Rescue Team, with assistance from DFO fishery officers, responded and were able to remove some of the rope attached to the animal on two occasions. Members of the disentanglement team indicated the whale appears to be in good condition.
o The whale was not resighted in Canadian waters after August 5. The origin of the gear is not presently known, and the investigation is ongoing.
o The whale was sighted in U.S. waters on October 24 and again on November 6. No efforts have been made to further disentangle the whale.
• On Tuesday, July 13, Fisheries and Oceans Canada was notified of an entangled NARW, #4615 east of Miscou Island, New Brunswick.
o It was spotted in a seasonal closure area where no active fishing was taking place. He was seen earlier in the day on July 13 gear-free.
o The whale was relocated by Transport Canada and DFO on July 14. Through assessments of video and photographs, it was determined that the whale shed some of the gear that was wrapped around its tail, although some gear was seen still wrapped over the rostrum.
o The whale has not been re-sighted since July 14, despite extensive search efforts.
o The Government continues to conduct aerial and vessel surveillance will keep an eye out for the entangled whale.
• Canada has extensive monitoring of right whales and whale #3920, known as Cottontail. Cottontail was not observed in Canadian waters throughout 2020.
o The whale was observed gear free in American waters in March 2020 but then seen entangled in American waters in October 2020, and February 2021. It was later found dead near Myrtle Beach on February 28, 2021.
o The Department worked in close contact with American partners, including the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), over several months to analyze the gear removed from Cottontail (Eg #3920) to try and determine origin.

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