Feds to consider using $400M fund, innovation prize to save North Atlantic right whales

The federal government will consider using the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fundand an innovation prize to develop new fishing gear or technology to help protect North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Those were among the "key action items" for a meetingfederal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlancheldwithexperts in MonctononThursday to findways to minimize interactions between humans and the endangered mammals and prevent further deaths.

At least 12 North Atlanticright whales died in Canadian waters this pastsummer, plus another four in American waters.

LeBlancsaid the government will introduce new policies before next summer based on his discussion with representatives from the fishing and marinetransport industries, First Nations leaders from Eastern Canada,scientists and other officials from across the country.

"I intend to include in the updated regulations a requirement for a 100-metre buffer between vessels and most marine mammals, including obviously the North Atlantic right whale," he said.

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Otheroptionsthat could be considered, he said,include a reduction or modification of fishing gear, such as the rope used for crab traps, reducing the number of fishing boats on the water, and starting the fishing season earlier, before the whales move north from their winter feeding grounds.

"Time is not on our side," stressed LeBlanc. "This species is at a precipice. Urgent action is required now."

Fisheries and Oceans Canada estimates there are onlyabout 450 North Atlantic right whales leftin the world.

Many of the recent deaths were due toblunt force trauma fromstrikes by vessels, or fishing gear entanglements.

"All options must necessarily be on the table when it comes to protecting these creatures," LeBlanc said, adding he wanted to hear "in an open and frank way" from delegates"who may have differences of opinion."

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) waslaunched in Augustto "focus on growing opportunities and increasing market value for sustainablysourced, high quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada," according to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.

To be eligible, projects must focus on innovation, infrastructure or science partnerships, it states.

Speed reductionscause problems

Another possible solution discussed Thursday is creating separate corridors for ships in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which the industry prefers over speed reductions.

In August,the federal government implementeda 10-knot speed limit in the gulf in a bid to prevent further whalestrikes.

Severalships havealreadybeen fined forexceedingthat limit, some cargo companies hiked costs to make up for lost time in the slow zone andsome ports saw their cruise stops cancelled.

LeBlanc said the government is "keenly aware" of industry concerns about the speed limit. "But we have a responsibility under law to take all of the appropriate measures to protect these endangered species."

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One scientistat Thursday's meeting suggested a two-knot speed reduction for vessels can increase the chances of a whalebeing able to escape a potentially deadly strike by 30 per cent, saidLeBlanc.

"Those are the kinds of things we want to hear about and those are the kinds of things that [Transport Canada Minister] MarcGarneauand myself are always open to doing," he told reporters.

The government is also exploring whether increased aerial surveillance couldhelp limit or adjust speed restriction zones or identify alternate marinenavigation routesby providingbetter real-time data on the location of the highest concentration of whales, he said.

Citizens 'deeply concerned'

LeBlancrejected the notion some ship operators might choose to break a speed limitand pay a fine because it's cheaper than adhering to the speed limit.

"I don't share that pessimism." he said. "I don't think that's the way the fishing industry or the shipping industry operate, but those that do choose to disrespect the rules should and will face severe consequences."

They will also face the public, he said."Canadiansare deeply concerned about the protection of these endangered species. I hear about it every week."

There is no magic bullet to solve the effects of human activities. Moira Brown,New England Aquarium

"I think public opinion will be unforgiving of somebody who said, 'You know what, I'm going to deliberately behave in a reckless, irresponsible way that could increase significantly the chance of harming or killingan endangered marine mammal.'"

Of the seven whalesnecropsiedthis pastsummer, four had signs of blunt force traumaconsistentwith ship strikes.

Twolikely died from entanglements in fishing gear. The cause of death on the seventh right whale has been found to beinconclusive.

Some whales also had to be freed from snow crab gear during the summer, including one saved byJoeHowlett, a 59-year-old fisherman fromCampobelloIsland, N.B.,who was killed during the rescue nearShippaganon July 10.

Need answers soon

Moira Brown,a right whale research scientist with the New England Aquarium and the CanadianWhale Institute, and a member of the CampobelloIsland whale rescue team, said there won't be any single solution.

"There is no magic bullet to solve the effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales. And that's why it's so important to meet with the stakeholders for this specific area."

She said they only have about six months to come up with a plan because North Atlantic right whales could return to the gulf as early as May.

Robert Hach, spokesman for the snow crab industry in New Brunswick, said the industry has come up with a number of ways to reduce the risk of entanglements, including the number of lines in the water.

"So it means that we have to have a very hard look at the number of traps we have in the water and reduce them, and when I'm talking about reduction, it's in the thousands, not in the hundreds," he said.

Still, Hachbelieves it should be relatively easy. He pointed to the current disproportion of traps allocated.

For instance, one group last year had 22traps to fish 25,000 pounds, while another group had only 10 traps to fish the same amount.

RenTrpanier, executive director of Cruise the St. Lawrence Association, said the most important thing for him is "to have a real picture of what will be done in terms of research, in terms of means of protection."

"The cruise industry wants to be involved,but we need to have answers soon about what's coming up in the short-term and also mid-term," he said.

The whale deaths this year have alarmedthose trying to protect the endangered mammals.

A few weeks ago, hundreds of whale researchers met in Halifax to discuss the critically endangered marine mammals being found dead this yearin waters off eastern Canada and the United States.

Another meeting is slated to be held in Nova Scotia later this month, said the federal fisheries minister.

"If we have to reconvene this group or other groups in the coming weeks, we're ready to do so as well," LeBlancsaid.

• PODCAST:Deep Trouble: the North Atlantic right whale in peril