The road to right whale recovery

Four hundred might sound like a big number, but imagine if you were one of only 400 people left on the planet. It would be very difficult to travel safely, find shelter and food – not to mention companionship – all on your own.

For the North Atlantic right whale, one of the most endangered large whales in the world, this is a reality.

The Maritime Provinces are home to two of the few known areas in the western North Atlantic where right whales gather each year. With only about 400 of the slow-moving, curious whales left in the ocean, their annual visit offers us a key opportunity to support their recovery. That’s why Grand Manan Basin in the Bay of Fundy and Roseway Basin on the Scotian Shelf have been the subjects of groundbreaking, international conservation efforts.

In 1993, DFO designated both basins as conservation areas to raise awareness of the visiting right whales. Building on this momentum, a Canadian proposal was brought to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recommending the relocation of shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy to avoid the area where right whales gather. The suggested change, which reduces the risk of ship strikes in the area by close to 80 per cent, was accepted unanimously in an overwhelming show of support for right whale recovery.

Another big step toward the recovery of the right whale came earlier this year, again as a result of collaboration with the IMO. In May 2008, Roseway Basin was designated as an “Area to be Avoided” by large vessels for the seven-month period (June to December) when right whales visit our waters. Step by step, governments, industries and community groups are making these important areas safer for the right whale – a crucial component of their survival.

These international efforts are all connected to a locally-developed Right Whale Recovery Strategy, which sets out goals, objectives and approaches for reversing the decline of the species. The strategy was created thanks to the efforts of a valuable group of contributors from many different fields, all passionate about the rehabilitation of the right whale population.

DFO would like to express its sincere gratitude to this community who have rallied for the gentle whales. From whale-watching codes of ethics to high-tech monitoring systems and whale-spotting hotlines, these people have already played a key role in the recovery efforts. With their continued support, we might just be able to ensure enjoyment of the annual right whale visits for years to come.

(Ian Marshall is the DFO Area Director for Southwest Nova Scotia. If you have questions about this column or would like to read about other DFO issues that affect you and your community in future columns, send en email to CommEnquire@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca or call (902) 426-3550.)