A group of experts from across Canada and the United States have gathered in Moncton to come up with solutions to protect the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale after a devastating year for the mammals.
Round table discussion underway in #Moncton on the North Atlantic #RightWhale led by #DFO minister Dominic LeBlanc. #canpoli pic.twitter.com/GmmwGIpZNr
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) November 9, 2017
Necropsies determined human activity was the main cause of death for at least 16 Right Whales found this year in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the North Atlantic.
Federal Fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc says new technologies including different kinds of rope or ropeless fishing traps could be explored by industry.
“I want to understand how ready is this technology to be used and what can the Government of Canada do in partnership with the industry to quickly test that technology and put it in place if it proves to be valuable,” he notes.
LeBlanc says urgent action is needed to prevent the unacceptable decline to extinction.
DFO officials estimate less than 460 North Atlantic Right Whales are left.
