The tail of one of the right whales briefly sighted off Martha’s Vineyard Feb. 21, 2017. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries/Pete Duley, NEFSC. Images collected under MMPA research permit #17355
NOVA SCOTIA – The Canadian government is announcing new protections for endangered North Atlantic right whales following a string of deaths and entanglements involving the marine mammals.
Six of the whales have died in Canadian waters in the last several weeks, and necropsies show three of them appear to be due to vessel strikes. The Canadian government said three more whales have been found entangled in rope, and it’s unclear whether they will survive.
Cape Cod Bay is home to most of the species during part of the year.
Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada said Monday numerous new protections are designed to protect the animals. The protections include increasing surveillance, expanding slowdown zones and changing the rules that trigger fishing shutdowns.
The whales number only about 400. The American government has said the countries need to collaborate on better protecting the animals.
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