Entangled North Atlantic Right Whale Freed East of New Brunswick

MONCTON, NB, July 6, 2017 /CNW/ - On Wednesday, July 5, Fisheries and Oceans Canada responded to an entangled North Atlantic Right whale off the east coast of New Brunswick, and successfully freed the whale. The whale was initially spotted by our partner, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Department takes the protection, conservation and recovery of endangered species very seriously. DFO worked collaboratively with partners on a vessel in the area, who were conducting North Atlantic Right whale research, to free the whale. A team of fishery officers was quickly dispatched on a fast response vessel to assist experts in a disentanglement operation.

DFO would like to thank all those involved for their quick response and commitment to this disentanglement effort. NOAA's plane and crew first observed and reported the entanglement and offered support from the air, while partners from the New England Aquarium, the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, the Canadian Whale Institute, and Dalhousie University were on the research vessel providing critical support.

DFO is also awaiting results from three necropsies conducted on Right whales last weekend and will comment on the final results once they become available.

For information on how to report dead, injured or entangled marine mammal, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mammals-mammiferes/report-rapport-eng.html.

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada