Some encouraging news for the North Atlantic Right Whale as the federal government unveils measures to protect the species in 2019.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says not a single Right Whale died in Canadian waters last year and more recently five calves were spotted in American waters.
We look for #rightwhales from the air and on the water so we can learn more about where they are and better protect them. https://t.co/JzNboUvTQX pic.twitter.com/fQiHYu0gNy
— Fisheries and Oceans (@FishOceansCAN) February 7, 2019
Federal fisheries minister Jonathan Wilkinson says a static closure for the fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence will continue but the area will be a different shape and much smaller than last year.
“We will also continue to implement temporary area closures as needed to mitigate the risk to right whales outside of the static closure.” Wilkinson said.
Ottawa introduced protective measures for the endangered Right Whale after the species began migrating into the Gulf in greater numbers and was threatened by vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements.
