Feds announce plan to save right whales

Fishermen who break speed limits in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence could face hefty fines as Ottawa announced a raft of protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales Wednesday.

Fishing vessels in the gulf must observe a 10-knot speed limit or face a $6,000 penalty for a first offence, while repeat violators can be fined up to $25,000, warn Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The federal government’s speed restrictions apply to all vessels longer than 20 metres and run from April 28 to Nov. 15, subject to change as needed.

“2017 was a devastating year for North Atlantic right whales. At least 18 of these iconic and highly endangered marine mammals were found dead in the last year alone,” said Dominic LeBlanc, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

As such, fishing vessels may only travel at normal speeds in two sea lanes north and south of Anticosti Island when no whales are seen in the area. A 15-day mandatory slowdown of 10 knots will be enforced within any section of these lanes if any right whale is spotted and the speed limit can be extended as needed.

Other protective measures include opening the southern Gulf snow crab season earlier if possible and closing it earlier, with all fishing fleets in area 12 beginning operations simultaneously. All snow crab gear must be removed from the water by June 30, two weeks earlier than normally scheduled.

Area 12 will also see fewer traps set compared to last year, while all vessels must report any interaction with marine mammals and certain fisheries must keep track of ropes, buoys and report any lost gear.

Fisheries management areas will be subject to both temporary and fixed closures anywhere right whales are observed. Fixed closures will occur in those areas where the whales were seen last year and will likely return to forage for food.