Researcher warns of looming ‘catastrophe’ for St. Lawrence beluga population
Posted Sep 28, 2014 04:25:27 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MONTREAL – A researcher monitoring belugas in the St. Lawrence estuary is warning of a looming “catastrophe” after another difficult calving season for the endangered whales.
Robert Michaud, the scientific director of a Quebec marine mammals research institute, says his team has found at least five dead newborn belugas so far during the calving period, which runs to Oct. 15.
Michaud says the number of dead beluga calves has been unusually high since 2008, and the overall population has been in a slow decline for the past ten years.
He believes undue stress and pollution are to blame.
The latest figures come amid a debate over whether to allow oil exploration at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, near a beluga breeding ground.
A judge suspended exploratory drilling for the TransCanada oil terminal in Cacouna on Tuesday following objections from environmental groups.
