The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 Illegal American eel fishing is big business in Canada. Ottawa just voted against protections https://thenarwhal.ca/american-eel-canada-trade-vote/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=150358 Illegal fishing and trade of American eel is rampant, but the federal government says Fisheries Act protects species and economy Moira Donovan News Atlantic Canada Oceans wildlife Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press Two hands holding a palmful of slippery baby eels For Nova Scotia, offshore wind could be an economic boon — with unknown environmental impacts https://thenarwhal.ca/offshore-wind-nova-scotia/ Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=149031 As the federal government considers fast-tracking Wind West Atlantic Energy, residents hope for economic transformation, while some worry about impacts to seafood industry and marine ecosystems Moira Donovan In-Depth On the ground Atlantic Canada electricity federal politics Major projects Oceans renewable energy Photo: Keith Levit / The Canadian Press How do we commemorate the sites of former residential schools? https://thenarwhal.ca/truth-reconciliation-residential-school-sites/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:29:06 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=145630 Some survivors want residential schools dubbed historically significant; others want them demolished. They're forging ahead, with and without Canada Moira Donovan and Darren Calabrese On the ground Atlantic Canada B.C. Indigenous Rights Manitoba Truth and Reconciliation In a Nova Scotia research lab, the last hope for an ancient fish species https://thenarwhal.ca/atlantic-whitefish-dalhousie-research/ Sat, 05 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=132833 Racing against time, dwindling habitat and warming waters, scientists are trying to give this little-known species a shot Moira Donovan and Darren Calabrese In-Depth Atlantic Canada biodiversity Endangered Species Nova Scotia Photo: Darren Calabrese / The Narwhal The artificial lake tearing apart a Nova Scotia community — and killing thousands of fish https://thenarwhal.ca/avon-river-windsor-mikmaq/ Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=121701 A provincial emergency order has kept Lake Pisiquid filled for more than 16 months. It’s also blocked the passage of fish, jeopardized Mi’kmaq Rights — and put a local fisherman, who had his truck keyed, at the centre of a hostile campaign Moira Donovan and Darren Calabrese On the ground conservation fisheries Indigenous Rights Nova Scotia Science ‘It could be very damaging’: feds worried about fallout of Atlantic salmon farm risk report https://thenarwhal.ca/atlantic-salmon-farm-risk-report/ Tue, 28 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=107854 Internal government emails about a report on threats to wild fish reveal tensions between protecting salmon and protecting aquaculture industry interests Moira Donovan Investigation Atlantic Canada fisheries foi salmon salmon farming Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press Three small boats float on the ocean, surrounded by an array of circular salmon farm pens The legal Atlantic fishery that still sparks violence https://thenarwhal.ca/atlantic-fishery-violence-first-nations-rights/ Fri, 27 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=90944 As Canada ignores its treaty obligations and its own Supreme Court ruling, First Nations fishers on the East Coast are suffering the consequences Moira Donovan Explainer fisheries Indigenous Rights New Brunswick Nova Scotia Illustration: Mercedes Minck / Hakai Magazine Illustration of a small white boat with one lobster in a trap on a pile of permits and paperwork and a bigger red boat with a bunch of lobsters in a trap on a bigger pile of money Fish farm escape puts Bay of Fundy wild salmon in jeopardy https://thenarwhal.ca/new-brunswick-bay-of-fundy-fish-farm/ Mon, 23 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=90567 When wild and farmed fish mate, their hybrid offspring have less chance of survival. But advocates say the governments of Canada and New Brunswick still aren’t taking action Moira Donovan News New Brunswick salmon Photo: Atlantic Salmon Federation Farmed salmon on a tray; Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick ‘It doesn’t go away’: another violent fishing season in Atlantic Canada https://thenarwhal.ca/indigenous-fishing-atlantic-canada/ Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=79002 East Coast fishers have weathered arson, gunshots and harassment. Conflict and turmoil will likely continue until the Canadian government addresses Indigenous Rights head on Moira Donovan In-Depth News environmental law fisheries Indigenous Rights New Brunswick Nova Scotia P.E.I. Quebec Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / The Canadian Press Baby eels, also known as elvers, are the most valuable commercial fish in Canada by weight. The fishery is worth nearly $50 million and the pressure to maximize profit during the brief 10-week harvest contributes to tensions among fishers.