Transport Canada has issued SSB No. 05/2021 – Protecting the North Atlantic right whale: speed restriction measures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
This advises of changes to the speed restriction zones, effective from April 28th 2021 to November 15th 2021.
The restricted area will be implemented based on whale presence, however:
- a trial voluntary slowdown of 10.0 knots over the ground spanning from Cabot Strait (a line running from Cape North NS to Cape Ray NL) to the eastern edge of dynamic shipping zone E will be implemented at the beginning and end of the North Atlantic right whale season
- a restricted area located in and near Shediac Valley – the location and size are both based on historical data of North Atlantic right whale aggregations, while the triggering mechanism is based on in-season detections.
- a ‘36.57 m (20-fathom) shallow water protocol’ will apply to all commercial fishing vessels.
https://www.nepia.com/industry-news/slow-down-for-whales-gulf-of-st-lawrence/