St. Lawrence Gulf. (Map: Stock File)
Additional fisheries to be closed due to right whales presence
CANADA
Tuesday, June 05, 2018, 00:40 (GMT + 9)
More fisheries have been closed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for at least 15 days after more right whales had been detected in the region.
The dynamic closures, starting on June 6, are part of new measures the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced in April, which are designed to protect the endangered species of whales.
It is estimated that at least 18 right whales of the north Atlantic were killed last year in Canadian and US waters and scientists pinpoint fishing and sailing as the likely causes.
The DFO explained that the new closures mean that 17 areas in the Gulf will be closed to the snow crab, toad crab, rock crab, lobster and whelk fisheries and that all gear, including fishing lines, must be removed from the area, Global News reported.
Closures will also be in effect for fixed gear winter flounder and Atlantic halibut fisheries, except in cases where gear is not left unattended.
Five areas in the Roseway Basin — located off the south-coast of Nova Scotia — have also been closed due to the presence of right whales.
DFO said they will inform fisheries prior to the reopening of any closed zones.
Meanwhile, the department is still enforcing a static closure from April 28 to June 30 along New Brunswick’s northern coast, where 90 per cent of right whales were observed last summer.
There are believed to be fewer than 450 North Atlantic right whales remaining.
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