Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Adverse weather halts search for entangled North Atlantic right whale in St. Lawrence River

Fisheries and Oceans plans to restart disentanglement efforts when weather conditions improve

FILE - A North Atlantic right whale feeds on the surface of Cape Cod bay off the coast of Plymouth, Mass, March 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Overview

  • Rescue teams from Fisheries and Oceans and Parks Canada suspended active operations after high winds and fog reduced visibility in the St. Lawrence estuary.
  • The juvenile male, first tangled in fishing gear off North Carolina in December, was last seen Tuesday near Quebec’s Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park.
  • Officials are conducting aerial and vessel surveillance to track the whale’s movements and assess any injuries caused by the gear.
  • The species, estimated at just 372 individuals in 2023, remains critically endangered with entanglements accounting for the majority of serious injuries.
  • Authorities have advised boaters and spectators to keep their distance to ensure both public safety and uninterrupted rescue work.