Right whale advocate says new entanglement strategy is a ‘game changer’

Oceana Canada is hopeful the federal government’s new fishing strategy could protect endangered North Atlantic right whales.

The federal government’s new strategy to reduce whale entanglements is a “game changer,” according to a North Atlantic right whale advocate.

Hanna Vatcher with Oceana Canada says she’s pleased to see the details of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s five-year Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy, which has been delayed since last spring.

“It reflects years of collaboration,” Vatcher said. “The urgency for North Atlantic right whales is real.”

The strategy seeks to reduce the harm to whales from entanglement in fishing gear by using “ropeless” or on-demand equipment. Vatcher noted that entanglements are one of the biggest threats to the endangered North Atlantic right whale as more than 80 per cent of them have been entangled at least once.

Since 2017, 11 North Atlantic whales have died from entanglements, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Thirty-six whales have been seriously injured by entanglements and 60 have suffered sublethal injuries or illnesses.

“Endangered North Atlantic right whales remain highly vulnerable to extinction, as human impacts continue to threaten the survival of this species,” NOAA says on its website. “There are approximately 380 individuals remaining, including about 70 reproductively active females.”

Earlier this week, NOAA reported the death of Division, a four-year-old male North Atlantic right whale near North Carolina.

“We’ve had good and bad years for whale entanglement deaths,” Vatcher said. “Division is the first whale death since May 2024. We have to do something and move forward.

“The strategy demonstrates Canada is meeting its conservation plans. Supporting whales and supporting fishing communities can go hand in hand.”

The strategy notes its initial approach will focus on East Coast fisheries and reduce harm to North Atlantic right whales before expanding across Canada.

“I’m happy to see they have plans to expand it to the west because there are other whales facing entanglement,” Vatcher said.

Some key goals of the strategy include:

• undertaking an entanglement risk assessment for North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence by 2027
• developing policies and tools to support the integration of whalesafe gear into fisheries management
• reviewing all fisheries for entanglement risk by 2030
• undertaking gear trials at east and west coast fisheries
• establishing pilot areas for on-demand gear by end of 2027

Vatcher said her main concern with the strategy is securing long-term funding for it.

“We’ve been hearing about budget and staffing cuts to DFO,” she said. “It’s a big question on how the department will uphold its objective.”

Vatcher is hopeful the strategy will raise Canada’s international profile as a conservation leader.

“I think the strategy has been a long time coming,” she said. “I think it’s going to put Canada on a global scale. People can look to us as an example.”