Parts of two lobster fishing zones will be closed again on Friday following another sighting of a North Atlantic right whale off the northeast coast of Prince Edward Island. The closure is anticipated to impact over 100 fishers, as reported by the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association.
This marks the second closure of the current lobster fishing season. Recently reopened grids in the North Lake and Souris regions in northeastern P.E.I. will again be affected after a previous whale detection at the end of April resulted in a nearly two-week closure.
The PEIFA indicated that 89 fishers in North Lake and 20 to 30 fishers in lobster fishing area 26A may need to retrieve their traps by 5 p.m. on Friday. The closure is expected to last approximately 15 days in accordance with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 2026 fishery management measures.
Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist with the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, expressed the frustration felt by fishers who were already limited in their fishing opportunities in the area due to previous closures.
Following the detection of another right whale by acoustic sensors off the North Lake shore, the affected areas were closed once again. The Canadian Species at Risk Act designates the North Atlantic right whale as endangered, leading to the implementation of 15-day closures in detection zones. Reopening for lobster fishing requires two aerial surveillance flights confirming the absence of right whales in the area.
Giffin mentioned ongoing discussions with Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding a potential pilot project that would permit fishers to continue fishing in closed areas with modified gear to reduce the risk of whale entanglement. However, no specific timeline has been established for this project.
In summary, the recurring closures due to whale sightings have presented challenges for fishers in the region, with efforts underway to explore alternative solutions to mitigate the impact on their livelihoods.