No second chances
The catastrophic die- off of right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2017 has presented Canadian policymakers with a stark choice: take decisive steps now to save this spectacular species or be complicit in its likely extinction. Between April and November of last year, 16 right whales were found dead, 12 of them in Canadian waters. Only about 450 of the mammals remain. The startling death toll represents more than 3.5 per cent of the North Atlantic right whale’s total population. The problem, it seems, is that the whales are migrating to the highly trafficked Gulf of St. Lawrence at an unprecedented rate, their range expanding probably due in part to climate change.
In August, in response to the spate of deaths, Ottawa asked ship operators to reduce the speed of vessels in parts of the Gulf where whales are frequently sighted. Fisheries Minister Dominic Leblanc also suggested he would consider rerouting shipping lanes away from feeding grounds.
These are sensible measures. Similar programs to save right whales in the Bay of Fundy and the Roseway Basin successfully reduced deaths there a number of years ago. But for these to work, and for Leblanc to make good on his promise to bring `` absolutely every protection to bear’’ to safeguard this rare and precious species, more must be done. Investments must be made now to study the whales’ shifting migratory patterns. Without more precise information about where right whales go and when, new shipping regulations will inevitably fall short.
Then there’s the tricky issue of whale- ensnaring fishing gear. Entanglements are not only occasionally deadly for right whales; they have also been shown to increase stress and thus decrease mating. The lucrative lobster, crab and other fisheries in the Gulf should not be shut down lightly, but short of such extreme measures, Ottawa must invest aggressively in the development and testing of new fishing technologies researchers say may be an important part of the solution.
Finally, the government should put an end once and for all to misguided plans for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Harper government opened the door for possible offshore drilling in the Gulf in its 2012 budget. For their part, the Trudeau Liberals have allowed the process to continue.
This is a terrible idea. The Gulf is a semi- enclosed estuary, meaning the damage from any spill would not easily dissipate. It would instead reach five coastlines, affecting land and livelihoods in all provinces touching on the Gulf.
And even short of a spill, the seismic method used to explore for oil and gas carries its own risks. It would involve sending sound waves into layers of underwater rock to determine the best spot for drilling. Scientists warn that can seriously disrupt fish and marine mammals.
Ottawa should follow the example of Quebec, which recently cancelled plans for oil and gas exploration on Anticosti Island in the Gulf.
In Canada, by virtue of our vast wilderness, three oceans and enormous holdings of fresh water, we have a special responsibility to conserve. Yet recent reports suggest we are failing in this regard. It is not an exaggeration to say that, in this way, we are endangering our food and water, the health of our economy and the sustainability of our planet. The case of the right whale presents a clear and consequential test of our commitment to conserve. We won’t get a second chance.