Heather MacAulay and her spouse, Chris Murphy, were puzzled by a strange sight in the waters near Blackhead Cove in Conception Bay North earlier this week. The couple described the creature as a “large misshapen something” with a vertical tail showing signs of injury, which left them intrigued due to its uniqueness.
Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a rare North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species with an estimated population of only 384 individuals remaining. Alex Cole, from the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Atlantic Right Whale Project, confirmed the whale’s identity to MacAulay.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) also verified that the whale sighted was a right whale and the offspring of Checkmark 3705, first spotted with its calf in Florida the previous year.
MacAulay captured a video of the whale, which Cole described as incredible. Cole emphasized the significance of encountering these whales, stating that it is truly remarkable each time one is spotted.
MacAulay and Murphy, who reside in Nova Scotia but have a summer home in Blackhead, have become fascinated with right whales. They learned from DFO that the same whale was sighted earlier in Massachusetts this year.
Although the right whale was present in Blackhead, Broad Cove on September 1, MacAulay had not seen it again by the time of her interview on September 3. She mentioned that they are actively monitoring social media to locate the whale for another potential encounter.
Cole mentioned that it is not uncommon to spot right whales off the east coast of Newfoundland. While sightings occur every few years, these whales are known to frequent the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Regarding the right whale population, Cole noted a stabilization trend after a decline in 2010. She emphasized the importance of reporting whale sightings to aid in species recovery efforts.
DFO officials in Prince Edward Island expressed optimism about the right whale population, citing the birth of calves this year as a positive sign for the species’ future.
Despite concerns about potential fishing restrictions following the whale sighting, DFO stated that no prohibitions were necessary but urged caution among harvesters. Cole highlighted net entanglements and vessel strikes as major threats to right whales, with a significant mortality rate attributed to these factors.
The damaged tail of the right whale observed by MacAulay was speculated to be from a shark bite or a vessel interaction. Cole emphasized the need for protective fishing technology to mitigate such risks and safeguard whale populations.
Cole stressed the ongoing efforts to develop effective gear for whale protection, urging its widespread adoption for the conservation of all whale species.
