A young North Atlantic right whale calf has been sighted entangled in fishing gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The discovery was first made on Saturday east of Miscou Island, N.B., with subsequent sightings confirmed during a joint survey flight conducted by Canadian officials and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Based on aerial observations, the New England Aquarium has identified the whale as a female calf, approximately one-and-a-half years old.
Efforts to assist the entangled animal have included the attachment of a tracking tag to the fishing gear. However, the specific type of gear and its origin remain unknown at this time.
The North Atlantic right whale is critically endangered, with only about 360 individuals left worldwide. U.S. officials estimate that 85 percent of these whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Marine Mammal Response Program is actively monitoring the situation and assessing potential responses. Depending on weather conditions, efforts to disentangle the whale may commence in the coming days.
Source: The Canadian Press (June 24, 2024). Entangled right whale calf spotted in Gulf of St. Lawrence, DFO says. https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/mobile/entangled-right-whale-calf-spotted-in-gulf-of-st-lawrence-dfo-says-1.6939413
