All the news on North Atlantic right whales in 2022

Six fines totaling $123,000 were imposed on vessels in 2021 for failing to comply with measures put in place to protect right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Transport Canada is closely monitoring the situation of North Atlantic right whales. These hefty fines have mostly been issued for speeding violations.

Source: 123 000 $ en amendes pour non-respect des mesures de protection des baleines noires (Radio-Canada, March 3, 2022)

The majority of reported fatalities involving Atlantic right whales are caused by entanglements in fishing gear. For several years now, researchers have been working with the fishing industry to develop ropeless fishing gear designed to eliminate the risk of entanglement. And thanks to investments from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, this new technology may soon be more affordable and accessible to the fishing community.

Source: Ropeless gear aimed at preventing right whale deaths may be commercially viable soon (CBC, February 22, 2022)

A documentary by Canadian director Nadine Pequeneza chronicles the precarious plight of the North Atlantic right whale. The film features several scientific teams tracking North Atlantic right whales as they migrate between Florida and northern Canada and features Snow Cone, a 17-year-old female whose wanderings together with her calf are tracked for a full year.

Source: Un documentaire choc sur les baleines noires présenté en Atlantique (Radio-Canada, February 10, 2022)

For the second year in a row, North Atlantic right whales are having an excellent calving season with a total of 13 calves as of February 1. This is a potentially encouraging sign for this species, which has been showing low birth rates and significant mortality since 2017. We’ll have to wait until April 2022 for the final tally of newborns! As of March 24, a total of 15 births have been reported.

To keep up with the arrival of baby whales, follow the latest news from the New England Aquarium.

Source: Une bonne année de naissances pour les baleines noires (Le Devoir, February 2, 2022)

A report published by the organization Oceana revealed lacklustre results. The majority of vessels transiting the Cabot Strait have not been complying with the voluntary 10-knot speed restrictions put in place by Transport Canada to protect the North Atlantic right whale. The organization indicates that the rate of non-compliance is too high for this voluntary measure to be considered a success.

Source: (2021) Vance, A., K. Elmslie and R. McIver.Au bord de l’extinction :Protéger les baleines noires de l’Atlantique Nord. Oceana, 15 pages.

A recent study conducted by the New England Aquarium shows that DNA can be used to better understand the survival of North Atlantic right whale calves, their growth rate and their life history. Researchers were able to determine the age of 12 whales, match 11 of them with their biological mothers and show that four calves previously thought to be dead were in fact still alive. These results demonstrate the importance of genetic sampling to monitor this species in the wild.

Source: (2022) Hamilton, P.K., B.A. Frasier, L.A. Conger, R.C. George, K.A. Jackson and T.R. Frasier. New study determines parentage, age, and survival of North Atlantic right whales using genetic testing. Mammalian Biology.

When the topic of right whales and their predicament come up, fingers most often point to climate change as well as human maritime activities. However, these factors are not the only ones responsible for the species’ current situation. In his new book, We Are All Whalers, researcher Michael J. Moore paints a comprehensive picture of the challenges right whales face while emphasizing the role each and every one of us plays in their conservation.

Whales Online spoke with this passionate researcher and philosopher. Check out the interview here!