Fishermen's association aiming to reduce whale entanglements

Following last year's right whale deaths in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, fishing gear entanglement is in the spotlight, and it was on the agenda at the Grand Manan Fishermen's Association (GMFA) annual meeting on February 13. Representing the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, Moira Brown and Jerry Conway attended the meeting to discuss the issue, and the following day they offered a workshop on techniques and equipment for disentanglement. GMFA office manager Amy Howe says it was a beneficial activity that was well received. Fishermen are starting to take the problem more seriously and realize that without solutions the fisheries minister has the power to shut down the fishery. "They understand the importance of the ecosystem," she adds, and are "respectful of the situation."
Lobster committee Chair Laurence Cook attended the workshop along with several other deep‑water fishermen from areas where whales are present. "No one wants to harm a whale," he says. "No one wants to see that in their gear." Damage costs fishermen money, and "no one's so cold and callous as to want to kill them. Most fishermen I know understand the issue and that it needs to be solved," and are willing to work on solutions.
Cook has disentangled a whale himself. Last year he saw a humpback caught in someone else's gear. He says he called the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to report it and was told to leave the whale alone. He then called the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, who encouraged him to release it and explained what to do. The whale was freed successfully. After the death of Campobello team co‑founder Joe Howlett last July, DFO suspended disentanglements, and Cook says, "It's a shame that so many people in government [now] say 'don't do anything'" and leave the whale perhaps to die in the name of someone who was willing to give his life to save a whale. If we are going to create a chance of entanglement, the greater risk you present to whales, the greater effort you should take to reduce it."
Cook says that some fishermen are concerned about future regulation of fishing areas and gear types. "They feel their way of life is being threatened, and that's a real concern, a legitimate complaint. How do we proceed with something that will not hurt people or whales?" He points out that many of the fishermen he knows who are complaining about unfair restrictions fish in areas where whales are not usually seen. "The answer isn't to restrict everybody that sets fixed gear." In inshore areas such as Long Pond Bay and Seal Cove Sound, "where no one alive can say they ever saw a whale -- those people shouldn't suffer. We'd like to draw a line inside which it's extremely unlikely" that many whales would be at risk, and he says the data exist to do this. He envisions different fishing zones in which gear modification would only be required in areas frequented by more vulnerable species like right whales, finbacks and humpbacks. He says minkes are less susceptible to entanglement.
Vertical lines pose one of the greatest dangers. Cook says removing one end‑line of a trawl would be a great help but that DFO has gear marking regulations and did not favour this idea. He says fishermen are still willing to do it, and again, that those in shallow low‑risk areas should not be impacted.
Aside from working to identify high‑ and low‑risk fishing areas, Cook says that at the beginning of the lobster season GMFA representatives do an aerial survey, and "we don't operate gear" in areas where whales are sighted.
Cook is hopeful for the future of these efforts and was greatly encouraged by the turnout at the annual meeting. Part‑timers, crew members and those hoping to buy into the fishery attended and paid attention. "It's great to see so many interested." He describes watching one young man who fishes crabs in the summer and who had just spent thousands of dollars on black rope, which is cheaper and longer‑lasting than other types. Upon learning that red rope is more easily seen by whales, he phoned the company on the spot and cancelled his order, reordering red rope instead. Cook says, "There's some hope where fishermen will cost themselves money to help. They realize something has to be done." He is pleased to see the younger fishermen attending meetings and making these changes and adds, "The young fishermen will continue this fishery. Us old guys have had our time; the young people are what matters most."
They will continue to seek solutions. Cook has been working with local knife‑maker Kelly Green on ideas for blades that will allow fishermen to cut tangled gear without putting themselves at risk. Having covered the theoretical work, the Campobello team will be returning in better weather for some practical instruction on the water. "It's good they were willing to give their time, when we cause some of the problem," Cook says. "It's fishermen helping fishermen."