Protecting whales and supporting fisheries: New initiative to reduce threats in Canada

Over a two-year timeframe, this project brings together key stakeholders including the Acadian Crabbers Association, Blue Ocean Gear, and the Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada. Together, we aim to work with snow crab harvesters, First Nations communities, mariners, and the broader public to raise awareness and adopt practical solutions to protect whales while supporting local fisheries.

Entanglement in traditional fishing gear, such as lobster and crab traps, is a leading cause of injury and death for whales. For the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, entanglement in fishing gear can lead to prolonged suffering and, too often, death. IFAW-led research found that between 2003 and 2018, 90% of North Atlantic right whale deaths with a known cause were linked to entanglement or vessel strikes. Each loss is a devastating blow to a population already teetering on the edge of survival.