Regulatory measures for whales

Fishery management measures on Fisheries and Oceans Canada website

In Canada’s Atlantic provinces and Quebec, a number of measures and initiatives have been implemented in an attempt to prevent entanglements in fishing gear.

Click here to consult the measures.

Click here to download the mandatory marine mammal interaction form.

Fishery notices related to North Atlantic right whales

Fisheries and Oceans Canada carries out acoustic surveys of right whales using hydrophones (underwater microphones) as well as visual surveys from ships and aircraft. The presence of this species in a dynamic area subject to the protocol will trigger a temporary or season-long fishing closure depending on the nature of the observation(s).

Click here to view the map of grid closures in Atlantic Canada and the regulatory measures to comply with whenever one or more North Atlantic right whales are present.

Transport Canada Regulatory Measures for Protecting Right Whales

Transport Canada is committed to the protection and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale. Measures are being taken to help protect this endangered species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These measures, which include static and dynamic speed limit zones, are reviewed on an annual basis.

Click here to consult the measures.

Reporting North Atlantic right whales

Learn how to spot right whales and report your sightings by clicking on the following link: Reporting right whales to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations

Click on the following link to learn more about Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations. If you witness an activity or behaviour outside the Marine Park that represents a disturbance to marine mammals, contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Poaching Alert at +1-800-463-9057 or complete the online form.

Marine Activities in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations

Consult the following link to familiarize yourself with the Marine Activities in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations. To report a collision with or disturbance to a marine mammal within the boundaries of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, communicate with Parks Canada wardens at 1-866-508-9888.