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Whale rescues put on hold

A whale rescue team can only look on helplessly as an entangled right whale struggles to free itself.

Whale rescue groups are still waiting for the green light to resume their duties following the death of a volunteer earlier this month.

Two weeks ago, Joe Howlett, a member of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, died while disentangling a right whale from fishing gear just east of Shippagan, N.B.

Further missions were immediately put on hold.

Mackie Green, a founder of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, said the team is still in shock, but feel they need to help entangled whales now more than ever.

The right whale is one of the most endangered whales in the ocean. It is believed there is only 525 right whales left in the world and any loss can have an impact on the future of the sea giants.

Green said his team is growing increasingly concerned after another right whale was found dead earlier this week in the same area Howlett died in.

Concerns for the whale are increasing, with some calling 2017 the worst year for the right whale in three decades.

In just six weeks, eight right whales have turned up dead and to the team’s knowledge, only three right whale calves have been born.

- with files from CTV News



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