can be directly linked to the seal hunt. Without it, an important signifier of Newfoundland and Magdalen Island identity would be lost.
9
The Right Whale: How Species Conservation and Fisheries Collide
The North Atlantic right whale is a highly endangered whale species with an
estimated abundance of 411 individuals (June 2019). It has been put under
strict protection in the United States and in Canada. One of the major threats
are ship strikes since major shipping lanes and the routes of right whales
intersect. Between 1980 and 2010 conservation initiatives focused primarily
on ship strikes. While this proved to be successful, another major threat—
entanglement—was left unattended.
Some of the right whale’s critical habitats in the Canadian Gulf of St
Lawrence are located in areas which are particularly important for the local
lobster and crab fisheries. An increasing number of right whales has been
entangled in fishing gear, having led to population downturns. In May 2018
the Canadian government announced the closure of six lobster and crab fishing
areas since right whales were sighted in them. This led to protests from the
Maritime Fisheries Union which represents fishers and plant workers since the
entire economy of several communities would be severely affected by a
closure. As a compromise, the Union proposed refraining from closing
shallower waters where right whales would not go anyway. This, however,
was rejected by the government.
In June 2019, when these words were written, the Canadian government is
following a multi-tier approach to right whale conservation: (1) shallow waters
(up to 20 fathoms ¼ 36.6 m) will be temporarily closed only when right whales
have been sighted in them; (2) temporary closures of larger, deeper areas of
lobster and crab fisheries will be undertaken when right whales have been
spotted; (3) season-long closures will be undertaken in areas where 90% of
sightings have occurred.
While this approach is to some degree a compromise, lobster and crab
fishers are discontent since temporary and season-long closures mean significant losses for them. A solution that satisfies both fishers and whales is not in
place at the time of writing. However, work on rope-less, acoustic trap
identifiers is ongoing, which could provide for a long-term improvement of
the situation.
The history and cultural importance of whaling in Atlantic Canada is different.
Along the Strait of Belle Isle between Newfoundland and Labrador (mainland
Canada), early Basque whalers established their first whaling stations in the sixteenth
century. This open-boat, traditional whaling continued up until the nineteenth
century and was dominated by different European powers.
9 Sellheim (2015).
3.2 Marine Mammals and Human Societies
45
9
The Right Whale: How Species Conservation and Fisheries Collide
The North Atlantic right whale is a highly endangered whale species with an
estimated abundance of 411 individuals (June 2019). It has been put under
strict protection in the United States and in Canada. One of the major threats
are ship strikes since major shipping lanes and the routes of right whales
intersect. Between 1980 and 2010 conservation initiatives focused primarily
on ship strikes. While this proved to be successful, another major threat—
entanglement—was left unattended.
Some of the right whale’s critical habitats in the Canadian Gulf of St
Lawrence are located in areas which are particularly important for the local
lobster and crab fisheries. An increasing number of right whales has been
entangled in fishing gear, having led to population downturns. In May 2018
the Canadian government announced the closure of six lobster and crab fishing
areas since right whales were sighted in them. This led to protests from the
Maritime Fisheries Union which represents fishers and plant workers since the
entire economy of several communities would be severely affected by a
closure. As a compromise, the Union proposed refraining from closing
shallower waters where right whales would not go anyway. This, however,
was rejected by the government.
In June 2019, when these words were written, the Canadian government is
following a multi-tier approach to right whale conservation: (1) shallow waters
(up to 20 fathoms ¼ 36.6 m) will be temporarily closed only when right whales
have been sighted in them; (2) temporary closures of larger, deeper areas of
lobster and crab fisheries will be undertaken when right whales have been
spotted; (3) season-long closures will be undertaken in areas where 90% of
sightings have occurred.
While this approach is to some degree a compromise, lobster and crab
fishers are discontent since temporary and season-long closures mean significant losses for them. A solution that satisfies both fishers and whales is not in
place at the time of writing. However, work on rope-less, acoustic trap
identifiers is ongoing, which could provide for a long-term improvement of
the situation.
The history and cultural importance of whaling in Atlantic Canada is different.
Along the Strait of Belle Isle between Newfoundland and Labrador (mainland
Canada), early Basque whalers established their first whaling stations in the sixteenth
century. This open-boat, traditional whaling continued up until the nineteenth
century and was dominated by different European powers.
9 Sellheim (2015).
3.2 Marine Mammals and Human Societies
45