Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says an entangled North Atlantic right whale has been spotted on the north shore of the St. Lawrence estuary. The endangered whale was seen in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park on Tuesday by a vessel in the area. DFO says attempts to find the whale are ongoing. If it is found, and weather and sea conditions are good, efforts will be made to try and untangle it. “We ask the public not to approach a rescue effort, should you see one underway. Keep your distance. Responding to an entanglement is dangerous, and our partners need space and time to safely do their work,” reads a Wednesday news release from the department. DFO says the whale has been identified as #5132, a juvenile male born in 2021. It was first sighted entangled in North Carolina in December 2024. Oceana Canada, an advocacy group for ocean conservation, said this is the first reported entanglement of a right whale in Canadian waters this year. “Last year, 10 whales suffered entanglements — six of them first seen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence — though the origin of the fishing gear is unknown," said Kim Elmslie, campaign director for Oceana Canada. “Even a single rope can threaten a whale’s ability to survive or reproduce. It is not yet known what type of gear the whale is entangled in or where it came from. DFO says it is also assessing whether it is a new entanglement or one previously known about. The North Atlantic right whale has declined in population in recent years, with only an estimated 370 remaining.
