North Atlantic right whale - Incidents and mortalities
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The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is listed as Endangered under the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA). To aid in species recovery, the Government of Canada implements annual management measures, to alleviate threats of entanglement and vessel strike, and supports response to incidents of dead and distressed animals through the Marine Mammal Response Program. The species is also found in US territorial waters and is also protected under the U.S Endangered Species Act and is a species of focus under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
In the event that DFO is made aware of an entangled large whale, the Department works with regional marine mammal networks as soon as possible to trigger the Entanglement Response Procedures for Large Whales in Atlantic Canada. Disentanglements are only attempted if they can be done in a safe manner. Factors considered include the whale’s behaviour, weather, and sea conditions. The Department works with partners on disentanglement and necropsy efforts on a case-by-case basis. Only authorized whale experts engage in this work.
Mortality events
In 2017, there was an unprecedented increase in reported NARW mortalities in Canadian and U.S waters, which led to the U.S declaring an Unusual Mortality Event. Following the mortalities in 2017 in Canadian waters, there were increased mortalities again in 2019.
Incidents summaries
Recovered gear analysis reports
Following the crisis in 2017, Canada began analyzing gear retrieved from entangled animals. In 2021, this process was formalized and expanded to become more comprehensive, with the formal reports published on the Department’s website. If gear is able to be retrieved from an entangled animal, DFO’s gear expert conducts an analysis of the gear to help determine fishery of origin. Identification of the gear type and its origin are typically only confirmed after investigation and when gear is removed from an animal, when possible due to safety concerns.
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