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+--- Thread: Right Whale on the edge of extinction (/showthread.php?tid=3313)
Right Whale on the edge of extinction - Catherine - 12-11-2017
North Atlantic Right Whales are very much in danger of extinction. Their numbers are few and 17 have died this year. Worse of the ones left only 100 are female. They are pregnant for a year and nurse for a year so they reproduce very slowly.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_udmwkoHYAhULAsAKHcbQAx0QFghgMAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwwf.panda.org%2Fwhat_we_do%2Fendangered_species%2Fcetaceans%2Fabout%2Fright_whales%2Fnorth_atlantic_right_whale%2F&usg=AOvVaw1_2Qmbr0sfM-q9c5oU319R
A lot of their deaths are caused by encounters with ships and fishing gear. If we don't act to stop the deaths then the species will decline and eventually disappear.
https://www.sciencealert.com/officials-whale-species-could-become-extinct-deadly-year
The situation is critical. Without action on our part to protect the whales they will continue to decline and be lost.
First there must be something done to reduce ship impacts witht he whales.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_udmwkoHYAhULAsAKHcbQAx0QFghOMAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fnew-brunswick%2Fnorth-atlantic-right-whale-ship-slowdown-1.4246243&usg=AOvVaw3msjCS6REbJta5AvI8dHJE
Some effort has been made, but it is just a start.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_udmwkoHYAhULAsAKHcbQAx0QFghLMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fnew-brunswick%2Fwhale-deaths-gulf-temporary-measures-fisheries-transport-1.4242512&usg=AOvVaw2Ai0vvOy2EeEKY9KGkoe2P
The slow down covered a small area for a short time. There will need to be an expansion of the slow down and perhaps a longer time frame set up.
The issue of fishing gear is more difficult. There is likely a lot of lost fishing gear already in the ocean. Regulation of gear now won't protect whales from everything that is already out there. We still need to rescue whales that are entangled. I realize that a rescuer was killed and that has caused all rescues to be stopped. I don't think it is the answer to suspend rescues. We can be more cautious, but we do have an obligation to help, especially when you know we are responsible for the fishing gear in the first place.
We have cause the decline of this amazing species first by whaling and now by impacts and entanglements.
I hope our efforts are enough to save them. We really don't need another extinct species on our conscience.