The Government of Canada has announced the 2021 measures to help protect North Atlantic right whales (NARW) from interactions with fishing gear and vessels in Canadian waters. To help prevent entanglements with fishing gear, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is building on last year’s measures by continuing to close fishing areas wherever and whenever North Atlantic right whales are present in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bay of Fundy, and Roseway Basin Critical Habitat. The Department will determine if NARW remain present in the closed area before deciding to extend a closure. To help prevent collisions with vessels, Transport Canada will be re-implementing its 2020 measures, including a restriction on vessel speed throughout much of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect areas where NARW are detected, and issuing fines to those who are not compliant with these measures. Transport Canada will also introduce a mandatory restricted area in and near the Shediac Valley and expand a speed limit exemption in waters of less than 20 fathoms to all commercial fishing vessels.
