Right whale entangled in Gulf of St. Lawrence, east of Miscou Island, N.B.

Right whale spotted entangled off N.B. coast A North Atlantic right whale was spotted entangled in fishing gear on Saturday off the northeastern coast of New Brunswick.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced there is an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Tuesday.

The whale was spotted by a DFO science team amongst a group of right whales, east of Miscou Island, N.B., on Saturday.

DFO’s Marine Mammal Response Program and partners continue to monitor the adult male whale known as Dropcloth. A rescue attempt will be made if weather and sea conditions allow.

In a news release, Oceana Canada said this is the second time Dropcloth has been entangled. The first time was in 2019. The organization is calling on DFO to require ropless fishing gear in areas that are highest risk to North Atlantic right whales. They say that ropeless gear allows fishing to continue and prevents entanglements.

Oceana Canada said there are 356 North Atlantic right whales left, and about 70 breeding-age females.

The type of gear the whale is entangled in has not been identified. Fishing gear and its origin are typically identified after removal and confirmed by investigation.

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