Gulf of St. Lawrence Whale Protection Order

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published several government notices on May 31, 2025, most notably an interim shipping order that limits vessel speeds and can close an area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect North Atlantic right whales. The interim order — Interim Order No. 2 for the Protection of North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 2025 — took effect on May 16, 2025 and is set to last 30 days. The Gazette also lists routine ministerial appointments and a technical radio standard published by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

What it does#

• Appointments
  • Lists ministerial appointments and the official styling of several cabinet positions. This is a routine administrative update.
• Whale protection interim order (under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001)
  • Applies to vessels longer than 13 m.
  • Sets a general speed limit of 10 knots (over ground) in designated areas:
    • Permanent "static zones".
    • "Dynamic shipping zones" and their buffer areas once at least one right whale is detected or when detection activities are suspended.
    • All "seasonal management areas".
  • Defines buffer areas as 5 nautical miles south and 2.5 nautical miles east and west of a dynamic shipping zone.
  • In the southern static zone, commercial fishing vessels in waters ≤ 36.57 m deep are normally exempt from the 10-knot limit, but become subject to it if a right whale is detected there and notified.
  • The Minister can have the Canadian Coast Guard issue NAVWARN (navigational warnings) to put limits or prohibitions into effect, or to suspend them for safety if weather requires.
  • A defined "restricted area" can be closed to navigation if whale presence or deaths/injuries increase. Many vessels are exempt from the closure (for example, commercial fishing, government vessels on duty, authorized research, pollution response). Most exempt vessels must still slow to 8 knots while the restriction is in effect.
  • Repeals an earlier April 16, 2025 interim order and is scheduled to be repealed automatically 30 days after coming into force (i.e., after May 16, 2025), unless changed.
• Radio standard
  • Standard Radio System Plan SRSP-306.4, Issue 7 sets technical rules for fixed line-of-sight radio systems in the band 6425–6930 MHz. Comments can be submitted by industry.

Who's affected#

• Commercial shipping companies and crews operating in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including cargo ships and ferries (vessels > 13 m).
• Fish harvesters and commercial fishing vessels — they have some exemptions but may be subject to limits when whales are detected.
• Small-boat operators and marine service providers working in the defined zones.
• Coastal communities and ports that may see slower vessel movements or temporary navigation closures.
• The Canadian Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which will publish warnings and run whale detection/response activities.
• Telecommunications and equipment manufacturers and operators that use the 6425–6930 MHz band, because of the new SRSP-306.4, Issue 7 standard.
• If it’s unclear who is affected by a specific detail (for example exact enforcement practices or fines), the notice does not spell that out.

Why it matters#

• The measures aim to reduce ship strikes and disturbance to the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Lower speeds and temporary closures reduce the chance of deadly collisions.
• For mariners and shippers, the order can mean slower transits, route changes, or short-term closures that affect schedules and costs.
• Fishers may face new operational limits in some situations, but the rule includes specific exemptions to allow ongoing fishing, research, and emergency response.
• The temporary, detection-driven design shows the government is using short-term emergency tools tied to real-time whale sightings. That means rules can appear or be lifted quickly based on detection notices and NAVWARNs.
• The radio standard matters to companies building or operating fixed point-to-point links in the 6425–6930 MHz band; it sets technical minimums that affect equipment and network planning.