DFO strategy promotes whalesafe gear to prevent entanglements.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans released a five-year Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy to expand whalesafe equipment and identify high-risk entanglement areas in Atlantic provinces.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has released a five-year Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy focused on the Atlantic provinces. The plan aims to expand the use of whalesafe gear and to identify areas with higher risk of whale entanglements. DFO says the initial priority on the East Coast is endangered species such as the North Atlantic right whale, and that it intends to work with harvesters rather than closing fisheries. The strategy highlights two main gear approaches: on-demand systems and low breaking-strength lines. Key points: - The strategy is a five-year plan with an initial East Coast focus to protect multiple whale species, and it names the North Atlantic right whale as a priority. - DFO lists two main gear types: on-demand gear, which leaves traps on the seafloor and releases buoys or airbags on signal, and low breaking-strength gear, which uses links designed to break under force. - On-demand gear is available in Halifax through the CanFISH gear lending program; the program has about 200 sets and has been used to catch roughly one million pounds of snow crab. - Advocates reported 20 right whale calves born this season, the most in 15 years; DFO noted there were roughly 380 other right whales in October, including about 70 reproductive females. - Fishers and organizations have tested whalesafe approaches for over five years, and the strategy calls for expanding testing and establishing authorization and use standards for gear. Summary: The strategy aims to reduce whale entanglements while keeping fisheries operational. Planned actions described include expanding trials of whalesafe gear, identifying high-risk areas for targeted use of on-demand gear, and developing authorization and standards for manufacturers and harvesters.