Right whale recently caught in fishing gear is spotted swimming free

A North Atlantic right whale has been spotted free of fishing gear after previously being seen entangled in gear off New Brunswick, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said Tuesday.

An aerial survey crew spotted the whale, nicknamed Shelagh, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the weekend, according to a social media post from the department.

The same whale was spotted in mid-May caught in fishing gear between the Acadian Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands.

The post from the federal department did not say where in the gulf the whale was spotted most recently.

'Good news'

CBC News requested an interview with DFO Tuesday afternoon, but only an email statement was made available.

Spokesperson Craig Macartney said the whale was spotted in a loose grouping of other whales by a surveillance flight operated jointly by DFO, the Northeast Fisheries Science Centre and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"Shelagh somehow managed to disentangle herself, which is good news," Macartney said in the email.

"The Government of Canada continues to take strong action to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales and to help their population rebuild."

Macartney was unable to say whether there would be new fishing zone closures, but another spokesperson confirmed that there would be no closure for this latest sighting.

A sighting of another right whale in May prompted a closure of the area to fishing, leading some lobster fishermen to protest and refuse to take their gear out of the water.

Shortly after, DFO announced that fishermen would be allowed to continue fishing in part of the closed area.

The fishing season in this area began on May 5 and is set to close on July 4.

4 deaths this year

Conservation groups believe there are between 350 and 360 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females.

There have been at least four North Atlantic right whale deaths documented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, this year — all of them female.

And at least three of the 19 calves born so far this year are believed to have died.

This year's federal fisheries measures to protect North Atlantic right whales in Caniadian waters are the same as last year's.

They include prohibiting fishing gear and activities for a set period of time in areas where right whales have been spotted. If a whale is spotted nine to 15 days after the fishing area is closed, the closure is extended.

Fines of up to $250,000 can be issued for violations.

The measures, which took effect on April 17, remain in place until Nov. 15.