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DFO closes part of Bay of Fundy after 5 right whales spotted

Click to play video: 'Federal government cracking down on abandoned fishing equipment'
Federal government cracking down on abandoned fishing equipment
WATCH: A new $8.3-million program is looking to retrieve the so-called “ghost gear” that can entangle and kill marine life, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale – Aug 27, 2019

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has closed part of the Bay of Fundy after five endangered North Atlantic right whales were spotted in the area.

The area near Grand Manan Island has been closed to all fixed-gear fisheries, DFO announced in a tweet on Thursday.

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READ MORE: Canada reverses speed restrictions meant to protect right whales in Gulf of St. Lawrence

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The measures came into effect at 5 p.m. and will remain in place until further notice.

Earlier this week, the federal government announced it will be contributing $8.3 million in an attempt to reel in lost, abandoned and discarded fishing equipment in Canadian waters.

READ MORE: International shipping industry under the microscope as whale death toll grows

According to the DFO, about 640,000 tonnes of fishing equipment ends up in oceans annually and can harm the endangered North Atlantic right whale.

The death toll of North Atlantic right whales has reached eight this year, with several of the deaths being blamed on collisions with vessels or entanglement with fishing gear.

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