The summer will be crucial for the survival of the right whale

Photo courtesy Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Experts have taken samples on a right whale of the North Atlantic died and ended up in the sea last summer.

Stephanie Gendron

Thursday, 29 march, 2018 00:00

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Thursday, 29 march, 2018 00:00

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There are only 450 right whales of the North Atlantic in the world and experts fear its disappearance within the next 30 years if human-induced mortality is not reduced or eliminated.

For the first time in 24 years, since we observe closely the whales, no new-born has been seen this winter off the u.s. States of Georgia and Florida.

Experts believe that it is unlikely that right whales were put down in another place.

The scientists believe that the many whales that hang in the fishing nets and the availability of food are the causes of the lack of babies this season.

17 carcasses

The absence of new-born babies is not a good news since last year, 17 carcasses of right whales were found close to the coasts of canada and the us. Several deaths have been attributed to collisions with vessels or entanglement in fishing nets.

“Recent data show that females with serious injuries due to fishing nets have a low reproductive success than females who have never been entangled or have only sustained minor injuries,” said Phil Hamilton, of Anderson’s Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

Signs of adaptation

“We also know that a whale swimming with fishing gear wrapped around it expense a lot more energy, which means that it will take more time for this female to reproduce,” he said to the Newspaper.

Phil Hamilton is not ready to condemn the species in spite of the gloomy forecast.

“The whales have a long life and are showing signs of adaptation to the evolution of foraging habitats. If we can just stop injuring and killing them with ropes and boats, they have a chance. I hope that the gravity of the situation will encourage the managers and the industry to take effective measures “, would he.

Speed limit

The government of Canada announced yesterday its plan to protect right whales, which provides, among others, a speed limit of 10 knots imposed on vessels of 20 metres and more, from 28 April to 15 November, except for some sectors where there are no whales.

“The results of the necropsy show that collisions with ships have played a role in a number of deaths of right whales of the North Atlantic. Slowing ships in certain critical areas can prevent these collisions, ” explained the federal minister of Transport, Marc Garneau.

There will also be aerial surveillance and at-sea increased to be able to spot the whales.

“These new measures are intended to protect these whales endangered […] and to reduce to a minimum the economic losses, if any, for local economies,” said Mr. Garneau and the minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the canadian coast Guard, Dominic LeBlanc.

The right whale

• Extent of 10 to 15 m
• Weighs from 30 to 60 tons
• Lives more than 80 years
• Travels alone or in small group
• Status in Canada : endangered

Source: Whale live