A timely opportunity to protect North Atlantic right whales in Canada |
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| Institution: | 1. Canadian Wildlife Federation, 350 Michael Cowpland Dr., Kanata, ON, Canada K2M 2W1;2. WWF-Canada, Atlantic, 5251 Duke Street, Duke Tower Suite 1202, Halifax, NS, Canada B3J 1P3;3. Oceanography Department, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2;1. Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka;2. Raja & the Whales, 21 Kottasha Gedara Para, Mirissa South, Sri Lanka;3. Biosphere Foundation, P.O. Box: 112636 Campbell, CA 95011-2636, USA;4. Canal House, Banavie, Fort William, PH33 7LY, UK;5. Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Hong Kong;6. International Fund for Animal Welfare, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UD, UK;7. SMRU Hong Kong, The University of St. Andrews, 1802 One Midtown, 11 Hoi Shing Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Hsin Chu 304, Taiwan, ROC;2. Department of Leisure Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, ROC;3. Department of Information Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, ROC;1. Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, 5773 South Stevens Hall, Orono, ME 04469, United States;2. School of Marine Science, University of Maine, 220 Libby Hall, Orono, ME 04469, United States;3. Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, P.O. Box 27, Stonington, ME 04681, United States;1. Global Vision International 7 The Space, Stibitz Road Westlake Business Park Westlake, 7945 Cape Town, South Africa;2. Population Ecology Group, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC) C/ Miquel Marques 21, 07190 Esporles (Balearic Islands), Spain;3. AZTI Fundazioa, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g, Pasaia, Spain;4. Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal;5. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), P.O.Box 55, Ukunda 80400, Kenya;6. Cetacean Research Unit, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150, Australia;1. Department of Environmental Science and Policy, College of Science, George Mason University, 2200 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA;2. Gotham Whale, 10 Bay Street Landing A5G, Staten Island, NY, 10301, USA |
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| Abstract: | The survival of federally protected North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) requires an immediate reduction in the risk of entanglement in commercial fishing gear. This paper argues that at least a 30% reduction in risk is needed to meaningfully contribute to the conservation of right whales. The argument follows from risk estimates calculated using time and space intersections of right whales and fishing gear in Canadian waters. Almost all the risk occurs during July, August and September (12%, 50%, 37% respectively) and the groundfish fishery contributed the greatest proportion (86%) of annual risk. Given that efforts in the USA to reduce entanglement risk through modified fishing gear have been unsuccessful to date, we address the alternative option of restricting certain fishing gear at times and locations where entanglement risk is elevated. There are many options that Canada could employ to achieve the above risk reduction and our results clearly point to the most effective and efficient action being seasonally restricted fishing in two relatively small regions; the Grand Manan Basin and the Roseway Basin. Fully a third (34%±4%) of the annual risk is associated with these two basins, though fishery catch estimates in the basins are relatively small and declining. |
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| Keywords: | Bycatch Canada Entanglement Fishing Right whales |
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