Snow crab fishery closed early due to whale entanglement concerns
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans closed part of the country’s snow crab fishery two days before the season ended in a response to the death of whale rescue specialist Joe Howlett on 10 July. Howlett was killed while disentangling an endangered North Atlantic right whale from snow crab fishing gear and lines.
In addition, both Canada the United States announced the suspension of efforts to free large whales trapped in fishing gear until after they complete reviews of their emergency response protocols, according to the Canadian Press.
Canadian Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc said his department may consider changes to the snow crab fishery in order to minimize whale entanglements and collisions between whales and fishing boats. READ MORE