World · North America · 1 hr ago
Entangled North Atlantic right whale spotted in Gulf of St. Lawrence
Canadian officials spotted a North Atlantic right whale entangled in gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A surveillance flight recorded the whale on Oct.
21 near New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
The entanglement was noticed only when experts reviewed the flight footage this week.
The whale has not been identified, and officials do not know what gear it is caught in.
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, with an estimated 384 animals left in the entire population.
If the whale is seen again, officials plan to attach a satellite tracker to the gear and try to free it.
Finding the whale again is the next step in that effort.
A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale entangled in gear was spotted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada said a surveillance flight saw the whale on Oct. 21.
The sighting was between New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula, Prince Edward Island and Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
The entanglement was identified when scientists and experts reviewed footage this week.
Officials plan to tag the gear with a satellite tracker and try to disentangle the whale if it is located again.
The department has not identified the whale or the type of gear, and the species’ population is estimated at 384 animals.
- Who
- A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale; its identity is unknown.
- What
- It was spotted entangled in gear. Officials plan to track the gear and attempt disentanglement if they find the whale again.
- When
- The whale was spotted on Oct. 21; the entanglement was identified during a footage review this week.
- Where
- The Bradelle Bank region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, between New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula, Prince Edward Island and Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A surveillance flight spotted the whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Scientists and experts reviewing footage identified the entanglement.
Officials plan to tag the gear with a satellite tracker and try to disentangle the whale.
- Species
- North Atlantic right whale
- Population estimate
- 384 animals
- Sighting date
- Oct. 21
- Location
- Bradelle Bank region, Gulf of St. Lawrence
- Entanglement
- Gear type not identified