Canada expands marine mammal protections

The Canadian government has announced significant expansions to marine mammal protections, targeting two critically endangered whale populations. New regulations will ban approaching Southern Resident killer whales within 1000 metres starting in June, as their population has dwindled to just 75 individuals. For the North Atlantic right whale, of which only 380 remain globally, protections are enhanced with seasonal Gulf closures and mandatory vessel slowdowns. A recent BC research report underscores the broader biodiversity crisis, revealing only 14 species have improved since 2008 while 493 remain critically imperiled.