Times & Tails

A four-day operation off British Columbia's North Coast has successfully freed a humpback whale that was entangled in fishing gear in the Hecate Strait.

Over the last ten years, both North Atlantic right whales and the fishers in their habitats have faced unprecedented hardships. These majestic whales, which migrate along the North American east coast from Florida to Canada each spring and fall, have seen their numbers drop by more than 25% due to various dangers, including entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and climate change. From a population peak of 480 in 2010, only about 350 whales remain today.

Portland, Maine (AP) – The federal government has unveiled a new funding initiative aimed at promoting the adoption of ropeless fishing gear to safeguard the endangered North Atlantic right whale, which faces significant threats from entanglement in traditional fishing gear and ship strikes. With fewer than 360 of these whales remaining, the initiative is seen as a critical effort to prevent their extinction.

Marine mammal rescuers in British Columbia are urgently searching for an entangled humpback whale in the waters off northern Vancouver Island. The three-year-old whale, named Vector, was photographed by a wildlife tour operator on Friday in Johnstone Strait near Campbell River. The photos show a length of rope or fishing gear tightly wrapped around the whale.c

Conservationists are raising alarms after a humpback whale with a severed tail was spotted twice off the B.C. coast, once near Klemtu and once near Greenpoint Rapids, north of Campbell River. The whale was seen struggling to swim against the current on July 10 by a group led by Tyler Bruce, co-founder of Campbell River Whale Watching.

An exceptionally rare North Atlantic right whale was spotted off the coast of Co Donegal, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). This species, one of the world's most endangered, was seen on Monday, marking the first confirmed sighting in decades.

HALIFAX - A new study predicts a steep decline in global fish populations, including species in Atlantic Canada, by the end of the century if unchecked greenhouse gas emissions continue.

As part of Budget 2024, the Government of Canada has announced an investment of $463.3 million over three years for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours, including those damaged by Hurricane Fiona. This funding, starting in 2024-25, adds to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) annual budget of $90 million for these harbours.

A pod of 77 pilot whales tragically died after stranding on Tresness Beach in Scotland’s Orkney Islands, making it one of the largest mass strandings in decades. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) discovered 12 whales alive but had to euthanize them after unsuccessful refloating efforts. The pod included males up to 7 meters long, females, and calves.