HELP PROTECT CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES FROM EXTINCTION

URGENT: 2024 has been a devasting year for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.

Of the right whale calves born this season several are not expected to survive. One of these newborn calves was severely maimed by a boat and others are presumed dead since they lost their mothers. But these are just the latest tragedies as the death toll surges at alarming rates for this critically endangered species. Shockingly, 142 right whales have either died, been seriously injured or are in poor health from 2017 to August, 2024!

Right whales are on the edge of extinction and could be lost forever if the government doesn’t take immediate action.

Entanglements in fishing gear and ship strikes are the leading causes of death for right whales, but they can be prevented. Currently, the federal government implements annual measures to protect them from these threats, however, protecting North Atlantic right whales is a long-term challenge that requires permanent solutions.

Join the fight to save right whales from extinction and tell the government implement ropeless gear in areas where there is the highest risk of entanglement – allowing fishers and whales to co-exist – and create permanent vessel slowdowns when whales are present in Canadian waters to reduce collisions with ships.

Speak up now, before these whales are gone forever.

The Honourable

Diane

Lebouthillier

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Minister

Anita

Anand

Ministry of Transport

Dear Minister Diane Lebouthillier and Minister Pablo Rodriguez,

North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world, with only around 356 individuals left. Between 2017 and June 2024, a staggering 139 right whales have died, been seriously injured or are in poor health in U.S. and Canadian waters. There are currently 34 right whales with severe injuries or entanglements that are not expected to survive.

Fortunately, we know the problem - entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes are the two greatest threats to North Atlantic right whales. The Canadian government must save these whales. Protecting right whales is a long-term challenge that requires long-term solutions for the species to recover. The current approach of treating it as an annual emergency, requiring only annual measures, will not work.

As the heads of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada, you are tasked with protecting these endangered whales from entanglements in fishing gear and ship strikes. Canada has the tools needed to change the trajectory of these whales from extinction to recovery.

That’s why I am standing with Oceana Canada to call on you to take the following actions as soon as possible to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales:

●	Reduce the number of vertical lines used in fixed-gear fisheries by transitioning the industry to on-demand and ropeless fishing gear.
●	Create permanent vessels slowdowns when whales are in Canadian waters.
●	Continue to expand the use of a comprehensive array of technologies (including acoustic, satellite and infra-red) to look for right whales and to better understand their movements in Canadian waters.

Please stand up for North Atlantic right whales. Time is running out, and their survival depends on you.

Sincerely,
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