Fishermen allowed to fish close to shore in Gulf of St. Lawrence after right whale sighting
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has updated its prohibition on a fishing area off the coast of New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula due to the presence of an endangered North Atlantic right whale, allowing fishermen to work close to the shore.
DFO says it instituted a 15-day temporary fishing area closure in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 23 C on May 17 after a right whale was spotted in shallow waters east of Miscou Island.
After a meeting on Thursday between the federal fisheries minister and industry representatives, the order was updated to allow fishermen to fish close to the shore.
"We had a productive discussion about how to address the pressing threat facing the endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, while accounting for the very real impacts on our lobster harvesters and the communities in which they reside," reads a Thursday evening statement from federal fisheries minister Diane Lebouthillier.
"I have asked DFO to convene a meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee on North Atlantic Right Whales which includes representatives of the industry and whale experts to review the existing protocol. It is crucial that we achieve the right balance in protecting these whales and while minimizing the impact on the fishing industry wherever possible."
Fishermen affected by closures
The Maritime Fishermen’s Union previously held at meeting Wednesday night in Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphaël to discuss the initial full closure with affected fishermen.
Martin Mallet, executive director of the union, said this situation should never have happened.
"We heard the news about the whale sighting on Friday afternoon, but when we looked at the actual water depth where the whale was observed, it was over the 10 fathom limit so it should have never closed the inshore area within that so the fishermen would have never had to take their traps out of the water from the get go, so this could have been solved if Ottawa would have listened to us," he said. "The problem in is Ottawa is they were looking at some other version of the maps that we were looking and on these maps the whale was at 9.5 fathom.
"I mean, we’re tripping on details here. At the end of the day we had a potential crisis where fishermen would have lost, and their communities, over $40-60 million within two weeks of lost fishing days, right?”
Russell Vibert, a lobster fisherman, said he was happy to find out fishing near the shore would be allowed.
"We only have two months to fish, so 15 days out of those two months is a long time, so it’s a big loss, a big hit for us," he said. "Today the minister, like I said, sent DFO out on the water to confirm that the whale was actually outside of that 10 fathom line and when that was confirmed, she is going to allow us to fish now within the 10 fathom.”
Austin Vibert, a former fisherman with Ghost Gear Disappear Inc., said ropeless gear could help reduce the risk for whales.
“Nobody wants to go out and harm a whale and they all want to go out and fish so the only way to do both is adapt a new solution," he said.
With files from CTV's Sarah Plowman.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
The identities have been released of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Northwestern Ont. woman charged with arson with disregard for human life
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
OPP charge driver going 175 km/h on Highway 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.
Looking for cheap flights for the holidays? Here are some tips to remember
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
The Menendez brothers case is not the only one that's been affected by a true crime documentary
Being an armchair detective has turned into an American obsession, fueled by an abundance of true-crime content in podcasts and television series. But some of those projects have sparked actual legal developments.