North Atlantic Right Whale Habitat

The Roseway Basin, located approximately 20 nautical miles south of Cape Sable Island Nova Scotia, is one of only two known areas where large numbers of North Atlantic Right Whales gather on a seasonal basis in Canadian waters. In fact, Roseway Basin, along with the lower Bay of Fundy, and three critical habitat areas in United States waters are the only areas in the western North Atlantic where Right Whales are known to repeatedly gather on a seasonal basis for several months at a time. Each of these important habitats is intersected by or located near major shipping routes. The Roseway Basin is an important feeding and socializing habitat for this critically endangered species, which scientists estimate number only about 400 individuals today.

Right Whale Protection History

The recommended seasonal “Area to be Avoided” (ATBA) designation is the most recent of several measures Canada has taken to protect North Atlantic Right Whales. In recognition of its importance to the very survival of the Right Whale population, a portion of Roseway Basin was designated by Canada in 1993 as a Right Whale Conservation Area. In 2002, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) unanimously adopted the Canadian proposal to amend the Bay of Fundy Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) reducing the relative probability of a ship strike in this area by approximately 80%.

Canada’s Proposal to the IMO

Canada proposed the establishment of a recommended seasonal ATBA for ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards during the seven-month period from June 1 to December 31 when the largest percentage of Right Whales is known to be in the area and when the risk of ship strikes is greatest. Overall, the impact of the ATBA to transiting ships is expected to be minimal.

Implementation

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee adopted Canada’s proposal at its 83rd session in Copenhagen Denmark October 3-12, 2007.

The newly designated recommended seasonal ATBA takes effect six months after adoption. It will be in place prior to the seasonal return of the Right Whales to the Roseway Basin in the spring and summer of 2008.

The ATBA will be in effect from June 1 until December 31 each year. Many groups with varied interests have come together to take the action required to put in place this new, safe and efficient designation that will make the Roseway Basin a much safer place for the North Atlantic Right Whale.

Informing Mariners

A Notice to Mariners will be issued in the near future to advise mariners of the new ATBA. The Canadian Notices to Mariners annual edition and the Sailing Directions for the Atlantic Region provide detailed information about Right Whales in the Roseway Basin and Grand Manan Basin Conservation Areas with precautionary measures for reducing the risk of an interaction. The 2008 edition will be updated to include the Roseway Basin as an ATBA. Detailed information on avoiding ship strikes in the Roseway Basin is now available on the back of Canadian Hydrographic Service Charts 4011 and 4012 and future editions will identify the Roseway Basin as an ATBA.