Transport Canada has issued a $6,000 penalty to the vessel ‘C.T.M.A. Vacancier’ for alleged non-compliance with a temporary mandatory vessel slowdown, in a bid to protect whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The temporary mandatory slowdown was implemented in August for vessels 20 metres or more to a maximum of 10 knots, due to the increased presence of whales in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence, between the Quebec north shore and just north of Prince Edward Island.
The vessel owner has 30 days to pay the penalty or to ask the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada to review the facts of the violation or the amount of the penalty.
Data showed that over the course of June – September 2017, 12 North Atlantic Right Whales died in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Only 450 of these marine mammals remain globally, according to NOAA.
The temporary mandatory slowdown will remain in effect until the whales have migrated away from the area of concern. Transport Canada continues to assist Fisheries and Oceans Canada in monitoring the migration of the whales in this area.
“Our government is determined to promote the safe coexistence of ship traffic and the marine environment in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We are committed to ensuring that all vessels meet the temporary speed limit and we will continue to take all appropriate action to ensure the safety of the whales,” noted the Minister of Transport Marc Garneau.
