Canada to take steps to protect vanishing North Atlantic right whales from ships
The whale is the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers only about 370. The whales give birth off the southeastern U.S. in the winter and spring and migrate north to New England and Canada to feed.
Along the way, the whales face dangers including ship strikes and entanglement in commercial fishing gear. Environmental groups have long faulted the U.S. and Canadian governments for not doing enough to protect the critically endangered animals.
Canada is enforcing mandatory protection measures for the whale this summer, Transport Canada said in a June 27 statement. All vessels of 42.7 feet (13 meters) in length or more must comply with speed restrictions in designated areas of the ocean to avoid whale strikes, the agency said.
Transport Canada said it is also requesting voluntary slowdowns in other parts of the ocean. The restrictions reflect the agency's commitment 'to the protection and conservation of endangered North Atlantic right whales,' the agency said.
'Transport Canada has been taking action to help protect this iconic species from vessel collisions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a high-traffic area where right whales are often seen,' the statement said.
The restrictions are being enforced at a time when scientists are voicing concern about a lack of right whale reproduction. The New England Aquarium in Boston said earlier this year that this year's calving season produced only 11 mother-calf pairs. U.S. government authorities have said the whales need to have at least 50 calves per season to start recovering the population.
The U.S. government decided earlier this year to withdraw a proposal that would have required more ships to slow down in East Coast waters to spare the whale. The move came in the final days of President Joe Biden's administration and federal ocean managers said there was no way to implement the rules before President Donald Trump took office in January.
The whale was once abundant off the East Coast, but it was decimated long ago during the commercial whaling era. It has been protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act for decades, but has been slow to recover.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
17 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
B.C. forestry executive warns against cutting bad deal after U.S. raises tariffs
Published Aug 01, 2025 • 1 minute read Softwood lumber is pictured at Tolko Industries in Heffley Creek, B.C., Sunday, April, 1, 2018. Photo by Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS VICTORIA — An executive in British Columbia's forestry industry says Canada should stand up to the United States, even after U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs to 35 per cent from 25 per cent on some goods. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Brian Menzies, executive director of the Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia, says being 'kowtowed and pushed over' is neither good for Canada nor the United States. Menzies says 'people respect people who stand up for what's important for them,' and if Canada does not stand up now, it won't be in a 'strong position to advocate for what's important.' Menzies' comments come after Trump had announced tariffs of 35 per cent on all Canadian goods outside the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade. A statement from Premier David Eby's office says he remains focused on protecting workers and businesses in B.C. from the 'deeply harmful tariffs' imposed by Trump's administration. The statement says that Eby supports the federal government's efforts to get a 'good deal' for Canada, adding that he looks forward to speaking to Prime Minister Carney about the situation. Read More Canada Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays World Celebrity
Vancouver Sun
17 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
Freeland tells MPs she is dismayed by B.C. Ferries' decision to buy Chinese ships
Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland told MPs Friday she was dismaye' by BC Ferries' decision to purchase four new electric-diesel ships from a Chinese shipbuilder using a $1 billion federal loan — but did not call for the loan's cancellation. The House of Commons transport committee launched a study of the Canada Infrastructure Bank loan on Friday. BC Ferries announced in June that it had hired China Merchants Industry's Weihai Shipyards to build the new ships after a five-year procurement process that did not include a Canadian bid. The Canada Infrastructure Bank contributed a $1 billion loan and said in June that the new ferries 'wouldn't likely be purchased' without this financing. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. In her opening remarks before the committee Friday, Freeland said she was troubled by the planned purchase and she believes in supporting Canadian jobs. She said she has sent 71 letters directing all organizations under the Transport Canada umbrella to prioritize Canadian content in their major procurements where feasible — particularly Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. When Canadian options aren't available, she said, the preferred option is to buy from countries with trade deals that include reciprocal procurement agreements. Dan Albas, Conservative transport critic and committee co-chair, requested the committee study of the purchase and has asked why $1 billion in public funds was earmarked to finance overseas shipbuilding in the middle of a trade war with the U.S. Freeland said Transport Canada will be convening a meeting with provinces and territories, ferry owners and operators, shipyards, labour representatives and the steel industry. She said she's also assembling a second meeting with major rail operators. Freeland did not directly respond when MPs asked her whether the government would push for the cancellation of the loan. She said she agrees that this is a moment of crisis for the steel and aluminum sectors and they need the government's support. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is accountable to Parliament through Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, who also testified. Robertson told committee members that the shipbuilder was chosen by BC Ferries, not the federal government or the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Robertson said he's disappointed by BC Ferries' decision and wants more Canadian-built vessels and more opportunities for domestic industry to participate in major infrastructure projects. He also called the purchase a 'critical' investment and said that 'these ferries need to get built.' Robertson said the government is looking closely at how it can better align its industrial policy, procurement tools and investment incentives to 'support and scale up Canadian capacity in important sectors like shipbuilding.' He said the Canada Infrastructure Bank is independent of government and that most of the projects it has funded involve Canadian infrastructure and businesses. BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez told the committee that it received six compliant bids to replace its four oldest ships, all from foreign countries. While two Canadian shipyards pre-qualified for the competition, he said, neither chose to submit a proposal. The organization chose the proposal that offered the best combination of value, quality, delivery, speed and protections for customers, Jimenez said. 'This was a choice between a foreign bid or no new ferries,' Jimenez said, adding that BC Ferries spoke with officials from the federal Transportation Department in April about the fact that the procurement was coming to a close. Jimenez said that if the company had gone with another foreign proposal, it would have cost up to an extra $1.2 billion. If there had been a Canadian bid, he said, 'it too would have cost more and those ships would have taken up to a decade longer.' 'British Columbians desperately need safe, affordable, reliable new ships to keep them and our economy moving. Our decisions have saved our customers and British Columbians from unaffordable, unnecessary fare increases,' he said. Ehren Cory, CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, told MPs that the Crown corporation played no role in BC Ferries' procurement decision. He said it's not the bank's role to tell project partners where they should buy their components. Cory said that regardless of where BC Ferries gets its vessels, the benefits of the Canada Infrastructure Bank's financing go directly to service users 'by keeping fares more affordable and ensuring new, reliable, cleaner ships are in service as soon as possible.' Jeff Groot, executive director of communications for BC Ferries, has said the company signed the loan with the bank before the contract with the Chinese shipyard was finalized. Before Friday's meeting began, Bloc MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval said he'd like to see an apology from the government and from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. He said it's 'unacceptable' and 'problematic' that the government plans to invest in foreign infrastructure when Canada's steel industry is facing tariffs from the United States. The new vessels are expected to join the BC Ferries fleet between 2029 and 2031. With files from David Baxter
Winnipeg Free Press
17 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. forestry executive warns against cutting bad deal after U.S. raises tariffs
VICTORIA – An executive in British Columbia's forestry industry says Canada should stand up to the United States, even after U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs to 35 per cent from 25 per cent on some goods. Brian Menzies, executive director of the Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia, says being 'kowtowed and pushed over' is neither good for Canada nor the United States. Menzies says 'people respect people who stand up for what's important for them,' and if Canada does not stand up now, it won't be in a 'strong position to advocate for what's important.' Menzies' comments come after Trump had announced tariffs of 35 per cent on all Canadian goods outside the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade. A statement from Premier David Eby's office says he remains focused on protecting workers and businesses in B.C. from the 'deeply harmful tariffs' imposed by Trump's administration. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The statement says that Eby supports the federal government's efforts to get a 'good deal' for Canada, adding that he looks forward to speaking to Prime Minister Carney about the situation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.
