Heather MacAulay and her spouse, Chris Murphy, were puzzled by an unusual sighting in the waters near Blackhead Cove in Conception Bay North. The couple described the creature as a large, oddly shaped entity with a vertical tail showing signs of injury, leading to their intrigue due to its uniqueness. MacAulay expressed how they became deeply invested in observing the creature, emphasizing the significance of witnessing something for the first time.
Their discovery turned out to be a rare North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species with only about 384 individuals remaining. Alex Cole from the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Atlantic Right Whale Project confirmed the identification of the right whale to MacAulay. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) also verified that the whale spotted was a right whale and the calf of Checkmark 3705, which was initially seen with the calf in Florida the previous year.
Cole praised the video footage taken by MacAulay, emphasizing the remarkable nature of seeing one of these whales. MacAulay, along with Murphy, who reside in Nova Scotia but have a summer residence in Blackhead, have now developed a keen interest in right whales. They learned from DFO that the whale was previously sighted in Massachusetts earlier this year.
Despite the right whale lingering in Blackhead Cove, Broad Cove on September 1, MacAulay had not encountered it again by the time of her interview on September 3. She expressed their dedication to tracking the whale’s movements through social media to potentially have another encounter for further analysis.
According to Cole, while it is not uncommon to spot right whales off the east coast of Newfoundland, the species tends to frequent the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The population of right whales seems to have stabilized after a period of decline around 2010, with sightings playing a crucial role in understanding their habitat preferences.
The sighting of the right whale did not lead to a local fishing restriction, as confirmed by DFO, who advised caution to fishermen. Cole highlighted that net entanglements and vessel strikes pose significant threats to the right whale population, with mortality rates evenly split between the two causes. MacAulay noted damage to the whale’s tail, possibly from a shark bite, but Cole speculated it might have been a vessel interaction.
Cole emphasized the importance of using fishing technology designed to protect whales, citing ongoing research efforts to ensure the effectiveness of such gear. She underscored the need for broader implementation of these protective measures to safeguard all whale species, emphasizing the current reality of the situation.
Overall, the sighting of the right whale off Blackhead Cove served as a poignant reminder of the critical status of this endangered species, prompting calls for continued conservation efforts and vigilance in protecting these majestic creatures.