The Canadian government is taking further steps to protect whale populations with a new "Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy." Announced this week by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the five-year plan aims to reduce whale entanglements in fishing gear by promoting the use of innovative technologies and fishing practices.
The strategy focuses on implementing "on-demand" or "ropeless" fishing gear on both the East and West coasts of Canada. This gear uses acoustic signals to retrieve fishing pots from the ocean floor, eliminating the need for vertical ropes that can entangle whales. The DFO is also advocating for the use of ropes designed to break under 1,700 pounds of force, allowing entangled whales a better chance to free themselves. The strategy will initially focus on the East Coast, with plans for nationwide implementation by 2030.
"Whalesafe gear solutions for Canadian fisheries are an important part of Canada's sustainable seafood industry,” the strategy states. By working with the fishing industry, the DFO aims to support market access and competitiveness for Canadian fisheries through eco-certifications and compliance with international import requirements. In specific eastern Canadian fisheries, testing of modified gear will allow fishing in areas typically closed due to right whale detection.
The DFO strategy has five main goals: developing supportive policies, identifying high-risk fisheries, addressing knowledge gaps, pinpointing high-risk management areas, and implementing gear modifications. Brett Gilchrist, director of national programs with DFO, emphasized the importance of collaboration with harvesters, Indigenous communities, and whale experts to develop a range of cost-effective tools. While the initial focus is on North Atlantic right whales in eastern Canada, the strategy will eventually expand to the West Coast and other whale species.
