fundy east whale rescue

The Bay of Fundy, known for its thriving fishing industry, is also a seasonal home to up to 12 species of whales. This extraordinary marine habitat is under growing threat. According to the International Whaling Commission, over 308,000 whales and dolphins die each year due to entanglement in fishing gear—a crisis that causes drowning, severe injuries, infections, and starvation. Until 2017, all whale disentanglement efforts in the Bay relied solely on the Campobello Whale Rescue Team—even for emergencies near Brier Island, located on the eastern side of the Bay. The time and distance required for Campobello to respond created a critical gap in coverage. That gap is now filled by the  Fundy East Whale Rescue (FEWR) team, based in Brier Island. 

The idea of creating a local rescue team had been discussed for more than a decade. For Shelley Lonergan, the catalyst finally came in the form of a deeply personal loss. As a research coordinator and chief naturalist with Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises, Lonergan has spent years tracking individual whales and can identify them by sight. One of those whales was Foggy, a beloved humpback who had been visiting Brier Island every summer since 1987. In July 2016, Foggy was spotted entangled in fishing gear. Despite efforts to reach her, logistical delays prevented the Campobello team from responding in time. Tragically, Foggy was never seen again. “We needed a local team to respond faster,” said Lonergan. So she mobilized support, organized training, and officially launched FEWR as a non-profit rescue organization founded in 2017. Supported by Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises and a team of dedicated volunteers from Brier and Long Island, FEWR now provides crucial response capacity for the eastern Bay of Fundy.

With the help of generous community support, FEWR acquired a 20-foot inflatable rescue vessel, stored on a trailer for rapid deployment. Allowing the vessel to be in the water in about 10 minutes, drastically improving response times for entanglements off the coast of Brier and Long Islands. The team also coordinates closely with Campobello Whale Rescue, attending joint rescues to build skills and gain hands-on experience. In 2016 alone, two entanglement cases were reported near Brier Island—Foggy and an endangered right whale. In both instances, weather and distance prevented a timely rescue. FEWR’s presence on Brier Island changes that equation, offering hope for faster intervention and better outcomes for whales in distress.

FEWR is committed to protecting these magnificent creatures, and with continued support, aims to ensure that no whale has to face the fate Foggy did—alone and without help.