Trump’s Executive Orders Escalate Extinction Threat for Right Whales – Canada Can do More to Protect Them
- por: Oceana Canada
- destinatário: Minister Joanne Thompson, Minister Chrystia Freeland
UPDATE: As the U.S. rolls back environmental protections, the consequences could be devastating for marine life—including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
With only around 370 individuals left, North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered large whale species on the planet. Last year was the deadliest year for right whales since 2019, with nine deaths, including five calves, one of which was severely maimed by a boat. Entanglements in fishing gear and ship strikes are the leading causes of death for right whales. But they can be prevented.
However, any changes or weakening of U.S policy, like we're seeing right now, will hurt efforts to protect these endangered whales. Since they migrate between the U.S. and Canada, protecting them on both sides of the border is essential.
Currently, the Canadian federal government implements annual measures to protect right whales from the threat of ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear. However, protecting North Atlantic right whales is a long-term challenge that requires strong, permanent solutions.
That's where ropeless fishing gear, also known as pop-up, buoyless or on-demand gear, comes in. This innovative gear removes vertical fishing lines from trap fisheries until its time to harvest, significantly reducing the risk of whale entanglements while allowing fishers to continue their work.
But this technology isn't yet widely implemented. Join us and help save right whales from extinction by telling the Government of Canada to implement ropeless gear in areas where there is the highest risk of entanglement – allowing fishers and whales to co-exist – and create permanent vessel slowdowns when whales are present in Canadian waters to reduce collisions with ships.
Speak up now and sign the petition, before these whales are gone forever.
Dear Minister Joanne Thompson and Minister Chrystia Freeland,
North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world, with only around 356 individuals left. Between 2017 and June 2024, a staggering 139 right whales have died, been seriously injured or are in poor health in U.S. and Canadian waters. There are currently 34 right whales with severe injuries or entanglements that are not expected to survive.
Fortunately, we know the problem - entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes are the two greatest threats to North Atlantic right whales. The Canadian government must save these whales. Protecting right whales is a long-term challenge that requires long-term solutions for the species to recover. The current approach of treating it as an annual emergency, requiring only annual measures, will not work.
As the heads of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada, you are tasked with protecting these endangered whales from entanglements in fishing gear and ship strikes. Canada has the tools needed to change the trajectory of these whales from extinction to recovery.
That's why I am standing with Oceana Canada to call on you to take the following actions as soon as possible to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales:
- Reduce the number of vertical lines used in fixed-gear fisheries by transitioning the industry to on-demand and ropeless fishing gear.
- Create permanent vessels slowdowns when whales are in Canadian waters.
- Continue to expand the use of a comprehensive array of technologies (including acoustic, satellite and infra-red) to look for right whales and to better understand their movements in Canadian waters.
Please stand up for North Atlantic right whales. Time is running out, and their survival depends on you.
Sincerely,
[Name]
