The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is considering an early opening of the snow crab fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The move may help the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale after another carcass was found this week off the coast of Virginia and U.S. officials believe the mammal got entangled with a fishing line.
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc says starting the snow crab season before mid-April could avoid peak whale activity.
LeBlanc says Coast Guard ice-breakers could open up harbours in northern New Brunswick and the Gaspe Peninsula to allow fishing fleets to get an earlier start.
He adds this may improve safety for the endangered species after 12 deaths in the Gulf of St. Lawrence last year alone.
But since the Coast Guard has other roles including search and rescue operations, LeBlanc says the ice-breaking measure may be a last minute decision.
