Waterloo Region Record

Entwined whale spotted in Gulf of St. Lawrence

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is searching for an endangered North Atlantic right whale that was spotted Thursday entangled in some kind of gear east of Gaspé, Que. The whale is a 14-year-old female known as Sundog.

Federal officials say marine mammal rescue agencies are on standby, though a disentanglement mission won’t be attempted unless sea conditions are favourable. It remains unclear what kind of gear needs to be cut away or where it came from.

There are about 336 North Atlantic right whales in existence, and many spend their summers feeding in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The sighting triggered a 15-day fishing closure in specific fishing grids in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

CANADA & WORLD

en-ca

2022-05-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://waterloorecord.pressreader.com/article/282110640219514

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