Parts of two lobster fishing zones will be closed once again on Friday following the detection of another North Atlantic right whale off the northeast coast of Prince Edward Island. The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association reported that over 100 fishers could be impacted by this closure.
This marks the second closure during this year’s lobster fishing season. The affected grids in the North Lake and Souris regions in northeastern P.E.I. were only reopened last week after a previous whale detection at the end of April led to a nearly two-week closure.
The PEIFA stated that 89 fishers will need to remove their traps from North Lake, while around 20 to 30 fishers in lobster fishing area 26A may also be affected. All fishing gear must be taken out by 5 p.m. on Friday.
The closure is anticipated to last approximately 15 days as per the 2026 fishery management measures of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist with the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, expressed that the closures are causing frustration among the fishers, especially after being shut out of the area for the first two weeks of the season already.
Following the closure on April 29, the affected areas were reopened last Wednesday. However, the association received notification from DFO on Monday about the detection of another right whale by acoustic sensors on a buoy off the North Lake shore.
Given the endangered status of the North Atlantic right whale under the Canadian Species at Risk Act, detection areas are subject to 15-day closures. It is mandated that two aerial surveillance flights confirm the absence of right whales before an area can be reopened for lobster fishing.
Discussions are underway between the association and DFO regarding a potential pilot project that would allow fishers to continue fishing in closed areas with modified gear to reduce the risk of whale entanglement. Although no specific timeline has been established for the project, Giffin mentioned that the association hopes for prompt progress in these discussions.