A man from Newfoundland spotted a North Atlantic right whale off the southern Avalon Peninsula recently. Jared Clarke, a tour guide, saw the whale while bird watching near St. Shott’s. Clarke noticed unique features on the whale’s head and back, realizing it was a right whale due to the absence of a dorsal fin.
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, with only 366 individuals remaining globally. Clarke, who operates Bird The Rock tours, was thrilled to share the rare sighting with his group. He managed to capture photos of the whale and reported the sighting to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The presence of the right whale raised concerns as it could potentially impact fishing activities. However, no fishing closures were necessary following this single sighting. Marine mammal researcher Jack Lawson described the sighting as both exciting and concerning.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans highlighted the challenges in monitoring and protecting North Atlantic right whales due to their movements. Various tools, including visual and acoustic monitoring, are utilized to track these whales. Clarke emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant for right whales, as they can appear unexpectedly during whale watching activities.