Parts of two lobster fishing zones will be closed again on Friday following the detection of another North Atlantic right whale off the northeast coast of Prince Edward Island. The closure could impact over 100 fishers, as reported by the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association.
This marks the second closure during this year’s lobster fishing season. The affected areas in North Lake and Souris regions in the northeast of the island had just reopened last week after a previous whale detection in late April resulted in a nearly two-week closure.
The Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association stated that 89 fishers in North Lake and 20 to 30 fishers in lobster fishing area 26A will need to retrieve their traps by 5 p.m. on Friday. The closure, in accordance with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 2026 fishery management measures, is expected to last approximately 15 days.
Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist with the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association, expressed the frustration felt by the fishers, who had already lost out on the first two weeks of the season in the affected area. The association is currently in preliminary discussions with Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding a potential pilot project that would allow fishing in closed areas with modified gear to minimize the risk of whale entanglement.
The decision to close the areas was made following the detection of a right whale by acoustic sensors on a buoy off the North Lake shore. Closure protocols are enforced due to the endangered status of the North Atlantic right whale under the Canadian Species at Risk Act. The reopening of the areas for lobster fishing will only occur after two aerial surveillance flights confirm the absence of right whales in the vicinity.