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2019 Further Management Measures to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW)

MONCTON, NB – Amended July 11, 2019 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Region, wishes to announce the further management measures to protect North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) in place for the remaining of 2019.

The management measures include:

Static Closure – Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence – NO CHANGE:

Dynamic Management Areas – ANYWHERE IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE:

Dynamic Management Protocol in Shallow Waters – ANYWHERE IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE:

Static closure area and dynamic management protocol for tended gear – ANYWHERE IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE:

Closure protocol for the Dynamic Management areas:

Other management measures for 2019:

What to do if you observe a NARW

It is important to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from the animal. Details regarding sightings of live and free-swimming NARW may be provided to DFO at: XMARWhalesightings@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by phone at 1-844-800-8568. If you observe this species, please send your contact information and information about the sighting (date, time, geographical position, number of individuals, photos and videos etc..

If you see a NARW entangled in fishing gear, you should not under any circumstances attempt to release it on your own. The behaviour of an entangled whale is unpredictable and dangerous. You should contact the Marine Animal Response Society at 1-866-567-6277 as soon as possible to share information that will help to organize an appropriate response by experts (time and position of the entangled animal, behavior of the individual, details on the weather and the state of the sea, photos or videos, etc.).

For additional information:

You can obtain additional information concerning NARW here.

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