DFO searching for entangled North Atlantic right whale spotted off N.B. coast
MISCOU ISLAND, N.B. — Officials searching for an entangled North Atlantic right whale spotted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence hope to prevent it from succumbing to one of the leading causes of death for the endangered species.
In an emailed release, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said the whale was seen swimming with a rope around its body off the coast of Miscou, N.B., and officers left Saturday to try to locate and help the animal.
The Fisheries Department said 12 North Atlantic right whales died unexpectedly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between June and September of last year — two of them from entanglement in fishing gear, according to an incident report from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative. Four others died from blunt trauma, likely caused by ship strikes.
A further five entanglements were also reported — two whales were freed by humans and two shed the gear on their own. The fate of the fifth whale is still unknown.