A second right whale has been spotted entangled in fishing gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced on Tuesday. It is the first time since 2019 that more than one whale of this endangered species has been observed in such a situation, which could well be fatal.
According to information published by federal authorities, the whale in question was seen on June 30 in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, between Miscou Island, New Brunswick, and the Magdalen Islands, an area where there are currently several individuals of this species. She was identified as EG 1403, a 38-year-old male well known to scientists studying the species and nicknamed “Meridian”.
Since this sighting, the whale has not been seen again. “The marine mammal response partners are on standby. If the whale is seen again and weather and sea conditions permit, efforts could be made in the coming days to try to extricate it,” DFO said in a statement.
It is not known, at this time, if the animal became entangled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence or if it dragged this fishing gear from American waters, where right whales spend the winter. Some individuals can indeed remain entangled for several months, before succumbing.
This is the second whale of this highly endangered species to be spotted entangled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this year. In May, one of the few females in the population, aged 14, was seen entangled off the coast of Gaspésie. She has not been seen since but is known to have been caught in fishing gear five times over the years.
Decline in births
Entanglements are a major problem for this species, which numbers around 335 individuals. Over 80% of adults show signs of entanglements, which occur mainly in lobster or crab fishing gear.
This could explain the low birth rate of this cetacean population. The New England Aquarium researchers believe that it is possible, in some cases, that females who have been entangled in fishing gear may not be able to reproduce due to the significant impact on their physical condition.
Many females may be unable to accumulate enough fat to successfully become pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term due to possible reductions in food availability and increased effort to find food. also the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (NARWC).
According to the research group, the reproductive rate has declined so much in recent years that “low births each year have eliminated the ability of the population to grow and cope with human-caused mortality.”
Mortalities and protection
In addition to the low birth rate, right whales have suffered record mortality in recent years. In 2017, no less than 17 adult individuals were found dead, including 12 in Canadian waters. A total of 10 right whales died in 2019, including a female who had become entangled at least four times in 15 years.
Last year, the Canadian government recorded one entanglement in the gulf, but no deaths, as part of the unprecedented monitoring operations that have been carried out since 2018 in an attempt to protect the species. Airplanes patrol the gulf and acoustic detection systems are also used.
These protective measures, which again this year include the imposition of speed limits on vessels and the closure of fishing areas when the presence of a right whale is confirmed, are essential to protect access to a vital American market for fishermen, particularly for snow crab and lobster. There is indeed a law in the United States that allows the country to “ban imports” of fishery products if the industry endangers marine mammals.
However, everything indicates that right whales are increasingly numerous to frequent the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from spring to fall, after having largely deserted areas such as the Bay of Fundy. This phenomenon could be linked to global warming, which changes the distribution of food.
According to a study led by scientists from Canada and the United States, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is now “an important habitat” for more than 40% of the entire population of North Atlantic right whales.