6 fishing areas closing after 2 right whales spotted in Gulf of St. Lawrence

[applegrove]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4671544

"SNIP.......



At least 18 North Atlantic right whales have been found dead in the last year — 12 found in Canadian waters and six in U.S. waters. 

Necropsies revealed the deaths were related to entanglements or ship strikes. 

This spring, efforts were made to start the crab fishing season early in hopes they would have their gear out of the water before whales started appearing in the area.

But DFO did warn temporary closures could be implemented and would only be lifted once two surveillance flights show the right whales are no longer in the area. 



.........SNIP"

[Haggis for Breakfast]

1. Is that normal, Applegrove ?

Is it normal to see whales in the Seaway ? Or the Great Lakes for that matter ? I grew up in Cleveland, OH and I don't EVER remember hearing about whales in the fresh water lakes and the Seaway.

[applegrove]

2. Me neither. But tons were killed in the Gulf last summer. That was the first i had ever heard of

right whales in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. Usually you hear about them in the Bay of Fundy near Maine. I wondered last summer if they were not in new territory because of global warming. Though the Bay of Fundy is colder than the Gulf of the St Lawrence even though it is south. Lake water warms the St Lawrence river and then the gulf. Belugas are usually in the St. Lawrence. Not right whales. I've seen a Minke whale in the opening to the Halifax harbour. Never heard of right whales on that atlantic ocean side of Nova Scotia. But to get to the Gulf of the St Lawrence the right whales would have to go around NS.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

3. Thanks for your response

What I find REALLY confusing about this is that the whales are traveling from ocean water (salt water) to Lake water (fresh water) and it doesn't seem to kill them outright as soon as they pass the Seaway. From a biological perspective that just seems odd. Adaptation happen all the time in nature, but not THAT quick, it usually takes generations.

[applegrove]

4. No. The salt water starts North of Quebec city not in the St Lawrence seaway.

The gulf of the St Lawrence where the right whales were found dead last summer is out if the St. Lawrence River. Even further from the seaway. The water is very salty where the right whales were found.

[applegrove]

5. I was wrong. All kinds of whales hang out in eastern Quebec.

https://www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/what-to-do/whale-watching

But none in the seaway or great lakes of course.