Fisheries minister announces changes to snow crab season, speed limits to protect right whales

Ottawa is changing the dates of the snow crab season and making a speed limit in the Gulf of St. Lawrence permanent in a bid to protect the heavily endangered North Atlantic right whales.

There are only about 450 of the whales left and last summer at least 18 were found dead off the east coasts of Canada and the United States, most having died after getting tangled in fishing gear or being hit by boats.

WATCH: Ottawa is changing the dates of the snow crab season and making a speed limit in the Gulf of St. Lawrence permanent in a bid to protect the heavily endangered North Atlantic right whales. Global National’s Ross Lord has more.

READ MORE: Concern over endangered North Atlantic right whales, no calves seen in usual areas

Transport Minister Marc Garneau says the speed limit of 10 knots imposed on large ships in the Gulf last year will be reinstated between April 28 and Nov. 15.

However, two shipping lanes with normal speed limits will be kept open north and south of Anticosti Island as long as no whales are the area.

WATCH: Researchers discuss how to protect North Atlantic Right Whales

What is the federal government doing to protect right whales?

02:16

What is the federal government doing to protect right whales?

01:58

What’s killing whales in Gulf of St. Lawrence?

01:38

Blunt-force trauma, fishing gear caused whale deaths

01:54

Researchers discuss how to protect North Atlantic Right Whales

Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc is also opening and closing the snow crab fishing season earlier, trying to get snow crab lines out of the water when the whale season is at its heaviest, and will also reduce the amount of equipment in certain areas.

LeBlanc said the government is investing in research this year to test snow fishing equipment with so there are fewer lines in the water which can entangle whales.