We now have this year’s first sighting of the endangered North Atlantic right whale in Canadian waters.
Two whales were spotted by a Fisheries and Oceans Canada surveillance aircraft in the Gulf of St. Lawrence north of the Magdalen Islands on Sunday.
DFO said there will now be a 15-day fishing closure and a 15-day vessel slowdown in the area as a result.
According to fishery officials, there are an estimated 340 North Atlantic right whales remaining, with 12 new calves being born this year.
Two whales have died this year in U.S. waters, including one of the new calves, which was found dead in North Carolina with no evidence of vessel collision or entanglement.
A 20-year-old adult male was also found dead in Virginia after being struck by a vessel, officials said.
