Fishermen scrambling after endangered whales’ arrival in Gulf of St. Lawrence
MONCTON, N.B. — The arrival of two endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has thrown several lucrative fisheries for a loop.
Federal authorities ordered fishermen in certain parts of the Gulf off northern New Brunswick and Quebec to get their gear out of the water by late afternoon Wednesday as part of an effort to prevent the slow, lumbering animals from getting entangled in fishing gear.
The deadline was originally Tuesday evening, but was delayed due to strong winds in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Marcel Godin, director of procurement for the Island Fishermen Cooperative Association Ltd., in Lameque, N.B., said fishermen are “scared” because they don’t know what will happen next.