Scientists from Canada and the USA presented 17 papers last week in a meeting to draw together several years worth of scientific research on North Atlantic Right Whales.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada research scientist Dr. Garry Stenson says the distribution of right whales in Canadian waters is largely the same this year as it was in 2017.
“We’re seeing a large concentration of whales in the southwest Gulf of St. Lawrence, fewer whales in the north, some found elsewhere,” says Dr. Stenson. “The traditional areas where we historically saw right whales in the Bay of Fundy, and Roseway Basin, there are still whales there but in much lower numbers.”
Dr. Stenson says there’s been clear evidence of this shift since 2015.
“And this followed a decline that was seen in the more historical areas, like the Bay of Fundy, and Roseway Basin, we saw a decline in whales in those areas, right whales in those areas, starting in about 2010,” says Dr. Stenson.
He says this year, the first right whale was acoustically heard in the Gulf on April 30th – similar to what had been recorded in 2016.
“The sightings continued until late December 2017, so again confirming the idea that whales are there until the end of the calendar year, perhaps even into early January,” says Dr. Stenson.
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(Photo: Department of Fisheries and Oceans/submitted)