Canada’s Continued Right Whale Protections Welcome — Oceana Urges Ropeless Gear and Mandatory Slowdowns to Prevent Extinction
Press Release Date: March 21, 2025
Media contacts: Vaishali Dassani, Oceana Canada, vdassani@oceana.ca, 647-294-3335;
Erin Vande Ven, Oceana in the United States evandeven@oceana.org, 303.829.3877
Today, the Canadian government announced it will continue existing measures to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Oceana Canada welcomes this commitment but warns that the current approach is not enough to save the species from extinction.
North Atlantic right whales continue to face major threats of entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with vessels. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced it will continue using fishing closures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bay of Fundy, Roseway Basin, and other areas when right whales are detected either visually or acoustically. Transport Canada will maintain a restricted area in the Shediac Valley, as well as current mandatory vessel slowdowns in static and seasonal management areas. The voluntary slowdown in the Cabot Strait will continue, with the fall slowdown period extended from 7.5 weeks to 10 weeks.
Below is Oceana Canada’s response from campaign director Kim Elmslie:
“We congratulate the government on continuing protection measures for North Atlantic right whales —a necessary step. The government needs to do more. With six entanglements reported in the Gulf of St. Lawrence last year alone, risk to whales remains high. To ensure right whales and fisheries can co-exist, Canada must immediately implement ropeless gear in high-risk areas.
We also need stronger action to mitigate ship strikes. The restricted area must be expanded, and slowdowns in the Cabot Strait must be mandatory. Oceana Canada’s research shows that voluntary measures don’t’ deliver the compliance needed to protect whales from fast-moving vessels.
This is both a conservation crisis and an economic issue. Canada’s $6 billion seafood industry depends on sustainable practices — increasingly demanded by global markets. Under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, failure to meet stricter standards could result in lost access to key export markets for lobster and snow crab. That’s a serious risk for fisheries already navigating new high export tariffs and economic uncertainty.
With only 370 North Atlantic right whales left, including fewer than 70 breeding females, this species is on the brink of extinction. By taking the lead in right whale protection, Canada can not only secure the species’ survival but also protect its global reputation for responsible, sustainable fishing.”
Gib Brogan, campaign director for Oceana in the United States added:
“Hats off to Canada for leading the way in protecting North Atlantic right whales. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to lag behind in meaningfully protecting this critically endangered species. Lack of action will only lead to more tragic deaths. To give North Atlantic right whales any chance for survival and recovery, the U.S. government must enforce slow zones along the U.S. Atlantic coast and continue developing entanglement reduction strategies, including ropeless fishing gear, that reduce the threat to these right whales.”
To learn more about Oceana’s campaign to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction, please click here.
Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and governments to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits, and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 325 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.
