Nov. 9 meeting in Moncton next step in combatting right whale deaths

Scientists, fishermen, large-vessel operatorsand Indigenous groups will meet Nov. 9 in Moncton to work on how to reduce the mounting numbers of dead right whales turning up in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Whale biologist MoiraBrown says it's important to take action soon.

SevenNorth Atlantic right whaleswere founddead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this summer.A total of 15 endangered right whales have been found dead off the East Coast of Canada and the U.S. this year. There's only about 500 of the marine animals alive on the planet.

"The right whale population has taken a heck of a hit this year," Brownsaid.

"We've had three times more deaths thanbirths. This is a hit to the population, but we have been working at reducing mortality."

Working out a solution

Brown has been studying the endangered species for over 30 years, working withthe New England Aquarium and the Canadian Whale Institute. She reviewed a recent report outlining what killed whales.

She says the conclusions that vessel strikes and entanglement from fixed fishing gear are killingthe whales aren't surprising.

Fisheries MinisterDominic LeBlanc will host the November meeting, which Brown says, is critical to work out ways to protect the right whales.

"That's what's key ...getting all the stakeholders in the room," she said.

"Not just the scientists and the managers, but vessel operators and the fisherman let's share information."

Speed restrictions

Transport Canada's speed restrictionmay have the biggest impact so far among the efforts toreducemortality rates among the whales, Brown says.

"I think the industry deserve a lot of credit," she said. "It's evident that the ships have responded very well and have slowed down in the areas of concerns."

Transport Canada introducedthe mandatory 10-knotspeed limit for large vessels in the Gulf in August. A reduction in speed is expected to decrease the number of whale strikes as well as lessen the impact of any that occur.That could result innearly 70 per cent fewer deaths.

However, since the restriction was put in place, several ships have broken the speedlimit andbeen fined, including a Coast Guard ship owned by the federal government.Brown wouldn't comment on the fined ships, but did saymost vessels seem torespectthe limit.

• Cruise vessel fined for breaking Gulf of St. Lawrence speed restriction
• Coast Guard ship fined for going too fast in Gulf of St. Lawrence
• Cruise ship fined for travelling too fast in Gulf of St. Lawrence