The Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced in a news release on Friday that a North Atlantic right whale entangled in gear has been spotted in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
This whale was sighted in the Bradelle Bank area, located between New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec’s Magdalen Islands.
“A DFO surveillance flight detected the whale on October 21, 2026, but the entanglement was confirmed only after DFO scientists and other specialists analyzed the footage this week,” the release stated.
Should the whale be located again and if the sea conditions permit, a satellite tag will be affixed to the whale for monitoring, and attempts will be made to disentangle it, according to the release.
“At this time, we do not have information on the whale’s identification, the type of gear it is entangled with, or its origin,” the release mentioned.
“The type and source of the gear are generally confirmed only after it has been removed from the animal and analyzed, whenever feasible.”
The department cautioned the public to maintain a safe distance and not attempt to disentangle the whale themselves if it is found.
“Intervening in an entanglement situation can be hazardous, and our partners require space and time to conduct their work safely.”
Individuals can report sightings or incidents involving marine mammals or sea turtles to the department through their online platform.
Right whales, among the most endangered large whale species globally, typically arrive in Canadian waters during April and May and migrate south in October and November.
Current estimates indicate there are around 384 whales, which includes 70 breeding females.
Following years of population decline attributed to ship strikes and entanglements with fishing gear, the population appears to be stabilizing, as reported by Fisheries and Oceans earlier this year.
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