Right whale death prompts federal whale-safe gear strategy

Canada released a five-year whale-safe fishing gear strategy days after an entangled North Atlantic right whale known as Division died. The plan sets timelines that include an entanglement risk assessment by 2027 and phased gear requirements through 2030.

An endangered North Atlantic right whale known as Division was confirmed dead on Jan. 27 after an extended entanglement. Days later, the federal government published a five-year whale-safe fishing gear strategy intended to reduce entanglement risks. The plan highlights alternative equipment such as on-demand "ropeless" systems and aims to identify fisheries with the highest risk to whales. Officials and advocates say the strategy was expected earlier and will be phased in over several years. Known details: - Division, described in reports as a four-year-old North Atlantic right whale, was confirmed dead on Jan. 27 following a prolonged entanglement situation. - The federal strategy is a five-year plan to pilot and implement whale-safe gear and to identify the highest-risk fisheries for targeted measures. - Milestones in the timeline include an entanglement risk assessment for North Atlantic right whales due by 2027, required whale-safe gear in some fisheries in 2028, and a network of fishing areas using the gear by 2030. - Environmental groups and campaigners noted the strategy is overdue and raised concerns about funding and cuts to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) surveillance capacity, which were reported in recent budget decisions. - DFO said past funding supported some gear programs and that market forces are driving uptake, but the department did not confirm new funding specific to the strategy in its comments. Summary: Division's death was cited by advocates as an immediate prompt for the federal plan, and the government has released a phased five-year approach. The next stated procedural step is completion of an entanglement risk assessment for North Atlantic right whales by 2027, with additional gear requirements and area rollouts planned through 2030.