The authorities from Transport Canada has planned to levy increased fines if they violate speed restrictions in place at the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Protect whales:
This measure is implemented to protect right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence which are increasingly injured due to speeding boats.
Two vessels fined:
To serve as a reminder to all other vessel, a cruise ship ‘Crown Princess’ and a container vessel ‘MV Em Kea’ was fined a whopping $6,000 for violating the speed limit in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence has a maximum speed restriction of 10 knots was put in place in early August to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales that are in the region. Since then, at least five ships, including a coast guard vessel, have been issued fines.
Sixteen whales injured:
So far, Sixteen right whales have been found dead in waters from the gulf through to Cape Cod. Researchers have found many of them have died through human interaction, including being struck by ships or getting entangled in fishing gear.
The speed restrictions will remain in place until the whales migrate out of the gulf.
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Source: CBC
