A heavy blow
Concern mounts over the deaths of endangered whales in Gulf of St. Lawrence
Fisheries officials are scrambling to figure out why several endangered North Atlantic right whales have died in eastern Canada.
The North Atlantic right whale is an endangered species in Canada and it is believed there are only 500 worldwide. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says at least five dead whales have recently been found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“This situation is very concerning,” said DFO in a news release this week. “The cause of death is unknown at this time and DFO is committed to finding out what happened to these animals and to protecting this species.”
The right whale is protected under the Canadian Species at Risk Act and the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. DFO has dispatched aerial surveillance planes and Canadian Coast Guard vessels in order to locate, tag and take samples from the carcasses. They are also considering towing one carcass to a location where a necropsy can be performed. DFO says they are determined to find the cause of death.
“The priority is to determine why these rare, majestic animals have died. Considering their small population, DFO is committed to doing everything possible to understand what happened to these whales, so that preventable whale deaths can be avoided in the future.” Anyone who finds a dead, injured or entangled marine mammal must call the Marine Animal Response Society as soon as possible at 1-866-5676277.