Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc offered his sympathies to the family and friends of Joe Howlett. The 59 year old fishermen, originally from Chester, was killed when he was hit by a Right whale he was trying to untangle from fishing gear Monday.
Leblanc says Howlett was working with conservation officers in a small boat when the whale killed him. The minister went on to say such rescues can be very dangerous and those involved are brave people who have a passion for the welfare of marine mammals.
Howlett was a founder of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team and had been doing this for many years.