Protection gear delayed again
DFO says more safety testing needed before new equipment becomes mandatory
P.E.I. lobster fishers will not be mandated to use lower breaking strength fishing gear this year, says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada.
Lower breaking strength gear is designed to break at 1,700 pounds, which is the proven weight to allow North Atlantic right whales to free themselves without getting injured when trapped and can reduce the risk of whale injuries.
The federal government had announced in 2020 that lower-breaking strength gear would be mandatory in 2022. It was delayed to 2023 because of COVID-19 and then extended to 2024. It has now been extended again.
Cathy Merriman, a senior officer on the whale team at DFO, said that when the department and the fishing industry began to thoroughly examine the new gear it was agreed that it required additional time to conduct further testing.
“So, there's no sense making something mandatory, if you don't know that it's going to work,” she said.
“At this point, we're asking fishermen to voluntarily start using this gear, only in
“At this point, we’re asking fishermen to voluntarily start using this gear, only in specific conditions.”
Cathy Merriman
specific conditions. So, especially in areas where they've already tested the gear and have found out through tests, that it's just as safe and just as effective as their traditional gear.”
She said some of the concerns raised by fishers and other stakeholder groups include fear the rope might break, resulting in lost equipment and becoming what is known as ghost gear.
That’s the concern of David Lewis, a lobster fisher from Alberton, P.E.I. He said having appropriate gear to protect North Atlantic right whales is important and he would consider it good news if it was implemented in a way that provides fishermen with a level of confidence that it’s going to work.
“Whales would be protected if this does provide protection. And I think that's questionable as well. We don't have any good real data to show how much protection breakaways offer,” he said.
“If we were to ask them what the expected number of
whales would be this would save, they wouldn't have any good data to show you. Because they don't have it. It's not tested.”
Lewis said the gear must be replaced each time it breaks when a whale gets trapped in it, so that will mean there will be extra financial costs incurring.
Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist with the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said the delay in implementing whale safe gear was needed. The association needs more time to understand how it all works and how it will help the whales. There is also a need to better understand the safety measures for fishers, she said.
“Some of the equipment, when it breaks, it kind of flings back towards the boat and can be a danger to the deckhands, the captain on board the vessel. So, they wanted to do some more testing and make sure they covered all basics from a safety perspective.”
Although it is not compulsory for every fisherman in P.E.I. to use it, some have been using it without any issues. It is currently unclear whether it will become mandatory by next year. She said DFO will provide an update in March.
“Fishers on P.E.I. are very aware of the issue and are working with DFO and trying to find solutions to make sure that we have a balance between ensuring a productive fishery while also protecting the whales.”