North Atlantic right whale - Incidents: 2017

2017 Incident tracker

Incident tracking data presented here by Fisheries and Oceans Canada is collected and draws from reports prepared by Canadian and U.S. response partners, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, research groups and non-governmental organizations. Additional information may be available through different sources that provide additional context; this serves as the official record of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

2017 Canadian Summary statistics:

• 12 NARW deaths observed in Canadian waters
• 5 NARW entanglements observed in Canadian waters
• 2 NARW entanglements in US waters, 1 linked to Canadian fisheries. Please see NOAA website for more information on these cases.

Entanglements

• 3530 (January 5, 2017)
  • Detected near Little Cumberland Island, Georgia, U.S
  • Disentangled successfully by U.S response partners.
• 4146 (April 23, 2017)
  • Detected in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, U.S
  • Unable to relocate for further actions.
• BK01BOF15 (July 5, 2017)
  • Detected near Miscou Island, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Disentanglement efforts were performed by Canadian response partners.
  • Resighted July 29, 2017
    • Confirmed gear free
• 1317 (July 8, 2017)
  • Detected near Miscou Island, New Brunswick, Canada
    • Unable to perform further actions
  • Resighted July 25, 2017
    • No gear visible
  • Resighted August 18, 2017
    • No gear visible
  • Resighted August 25, 2017
    • Confirmed gear free
• 4123 (July 9, 2017)
  • Detected near Miscou Island, New Brunswick, Canada
    • Unable to perform further actions
  • Resighted July 10, 2017
    • Near Miscou Island, New Brunswick, Canada
    • Disentanglement efforts were performed by Canadian response partners
  • Resighted July 29, 2017
    • In the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada
    • Confirmed gear free
• 4094 (July 19, 2017)
  • Detected near Miscou Island, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Unable to relocate for further actions
• 3245 (August 28, 2017)
  • Detected in the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, Canada
  • Unable to relocate for further actions

Mortalities

• 4694 (April 13, 2017)
  • Observed dead in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, U.S
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was blunt force trauma from a vessel strike
• 3746 (June 6, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Carcass was not examined. Cause of death is unknown
• 3190 (June 18, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy was completed but cause of death was undetermined
• 1402 (June 19, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was suspected blunt force trauma from a vessel strike
• 3603 (June 21, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was acute injuries from entanglement. Based on report from Conservation and Protection Officer, gear confirmed to be from Canadian snow crab harvester
• 3512 (June 22, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Carcass examined and sampled at sea. No necropsy completed. Cause of death is unknown.
• 1207 (June 23, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was probable blunt force trauma from a vessel strike
• Unknown (July 6, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was probable blunt force trauma from a vessel strike
• 2140 (July 19, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was suspected blunt force trauma from a vessel strike
• 2630 (July 21, 2017)
  • Observed dead near Church Point, Newfoundland, Canada
  • Carcass examined and sampled. No necropsy completed. Cause of death is unknown.
• Unknown (July 27, 2017)
  • Observed dead near Church Point, Newfoundland, Canada
  • Carcass examined and sampled. No necropsy completed. Cause of death is unknown.
• 1911 (July 30, 2017)
  • Observed dead near River of Ponds, Newfoundland, Canada
  • Carcass examined and sampled. No necropsy completed. Cause of death is unknown.
• Unknown (August 6, 2017)
  • Observed dead near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S
  • Cause of death was probable entanglement
• 2123 (August 9, 2017)
  • Observed dead near George’s Bank, Massachusetts, U.S
  • Carcass was not examined. Cause of death is unknown
• 4504 (September 15, 2017)
  • Observed dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
  • Necropsy determined cause of death was acute injuries from entanglement.
• Unknown (October 23, 2017)
  • Observed dead near Nashawena Island, Massachusetts, U.S
  • Cause of death is suspected entanglement
• 2611 (November 7, 2017)
  • Observed dead near Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S
  • Cause of death undetermined