Canadian Rescuer Killed During Whale Disentanglement
July 11, 2017

CBC article: 'He was a hero': Fisherman who died saving whale saw rescue as a duty

Yet more devastating news out of Canada. Joe Howlett, one of the co-founders of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, was killed on Monday just after disentangling a North Atlantic right whale. He was on a Department of Fisheries vessel east of Miscou Island when he was killed. As stated in this CBC article, "The whale apparently swam away free from the gear," Jerry Conway, an adviser with the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, said Tuesday. "The whale responded in a way that ultimately killed Joe."

This was the second whale he had freed in a week in the same area, we reported on the previous rescue in this news release. The two whales rescued by Joe Howlett and his team were both found entangled in snow crab fishing gear near Shippagan, New Brunswick. This is also the same area where seven whales have been found dead since early June, one of which was entangled in fishing gear. There was also a whale found dead on Sable Island off of Nova Scotia last year entangled in gear that was traced back to a snow crab fisherman. This is at least the third whale in one year that has been found entangled in snow crab fishing gear in that area. We will be releasing a separate statement on this rising source of North Atlantic right whale entanglements in the coming days.

Joe will be remembered as a hero for his work freeing whales. The whales he has saved can continue to not only live but add to their populations, so his brave contributions will live on for generations. We are keeping Joe, his family and the North Atlantic right whale protection community in our thoughts during this time.