NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: Canadian Provincial Government moves to protect North Pacific Rights
© Matt Villano
The most recent move comes after DFO created a multi-agency recovery team to identify threats and knowledge gaps that should be addressed to ensure recovery of the species. The members of the team agreed that the primary threat to the survival of the North Pacific right whale is likely small population numbers. Additional threats include coastal development and ship strikes; entanglement in fishing gear; habitat degradation; noise; climate change and food supply; pollution; and the inability to find a mate due to small populations numbers.
According to Species at Risk Recovery Plan Coordinator Carol Eros, basic aspects of the biology and ecology of the North Pacific right whale remain unknown. Identified knowledge gaps are population structure and genetics; life history parameters and population dynamics; current presence, abundance, distribution, and habitat use in BC waters; and clarification of threats and human influences. As such, the recovery plan proposes to attempt to restore the right whale population in Canadian waters and maintain its survival by undertaking the following activities:
• Gather baseline data on occurrence, abundance and habitat to support recovery efforts. • Obtain better information on potential threats to North Pacific right whales that frequent Canadian waters and the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate these impacts. • Develop and implement tasks or programs to reduce impacts from human activities on the population of right whales that frequent BC waters. • Conduct long-term monitoring of the status of North Pacific right whales and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. • Contribute to bilateral and multilateral cooperative efforts to conserve and recover the North Pacific right whale. • Raise awareness and understanding of the status of and threats to North Pacific right whales • Engage Canadians in supporting national and international recovery efforts.
Right whales in Canada are protected under the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act as well as under the soon-to-come-into-force, Species At Risk Act (SARA). Once it comes into force, SARA will prohibit killing, harming and harassing a threatened or endangered species and will protect their critical habitat. Recovery planning is also a legal requirement under the SARA.
The right whale, once plentiful across much of the North Pacific Ocean, is now rarely seen in coastal British Columbia waters. It was first declared endangered by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife of Canada) in April 1980, and again in 1985, 1987 and 1991. It was the first whale species to be protected internationally in 1935 by the International Whaling Commission. Members of the public interested in viewing the draft document and contributing comments can visit the following DFO web site:
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