Book Description

North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are among the most critically endangered cetacean species in the world. Despite having protected status, both internationally and in Canadian waters, the right whale population that frequents Canadian waters remains at low abundance, with an estimated population of around 325 individuals (EC 2006). It has been estimated that at least thirty percent of right whale deaths result from their interaction with human activities, and entanglement in fishing gear is a significant cause for known injury and mortality (Knowlton and Kraus 2001). This report has identified the different gear types and fisheries that right whales encounter in Scotia-Fundy region, as well as the potential they pose for entanglement. Commercial landings data for the time series between 1999 and 2005 inclusive were used to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of fishing activity. These fishery distributions were compared to the patterns of right whale aggregation in Scotia-Fundy waters in order to estimate the potential for right whale/gear interaction among the different gear types/fisheries over time and space. Of all the gears that right whales encounter in their summer habitat, the groundfish gillnet, groundfish hook and line, and crab trap fisheries pose the greatest potential for entanglement. These gear types are relatively more likely to lead to entanglement because (1) these are the most active fisheries in Scotia-Fundy during the period of right whale aggregation, and (2) the design of the gears and their methods of deployment lend themselves to possible entanglements. The results of this study may be used to advise industry and management on actions that would minimize the risk of entanglement to right whales, while correspondingly minimizing any disruption of the commercial fisheries in the Scotia-Fundy region