Joe Howlett, a Campobello Island, N.B., man who lost his life Monday night freeing a whale tangled up in fishing gear, was not afraid of his work. 
 
 Howlett, who co-founded the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, was performing a rescue in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from a Department of Fisheries vessel based at Shippagan, on the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick, when he died. 
 
 In a 2013 interview, he had told CBC Mainstreet, that rescuing whales is "not a scary situation." 
 
 "I'm a fisherman and I've been fishing for half of my life, and I know what it's all about with ropes and things like that," he said at the time. 
 
 Steve Hachey, a spokesperson with the Department of Fisheries, said the rescue took place east of Miscou Island. 
 
 Howlett was in the boat when the suddenly liberated whale did something that led to the 59-year-old's death, although the details were not yet clear. 
 
 "The whale apparently swam away free from the gear," Jerry Conway, an adviser with the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, said Tuesday. 
 
 "The whale responded in a way that ultimately killed Joe." 
 
 Jerry Conway, an adviser with the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, says Howlett dedicated his life to rescuing whales. (CBC) 
 
 Typically, a vessel will back off immediately after a rescue because whales do respond in seconds to being set free, Conway said. 
 
 Conway said it can take hours to disentangle some of the whales. While they are entangled they can't move very much, which makes it easy to work with them. 
 
 Rescuers are faced with all kinds of dangers, he said, including getting entangled in rope themselves, being dragged over the side of the boat, or being tipped into the water if a whale throws itself around and upsets the boat. 
 
 Dangerous work 
 
 Weather conditions can also play a part. 
 
 "You're dealing with a 70-tonne whale that's very upset," Conway said. 
 
 But Howlett, who co-founded the Campobello rescue team in 2002, felt a responsibility to save whales and was always thrilled when he could disentangle one from ropes. 
 
 "Once he finished the cut, and the rope fell away, you couldn't find a man more excited and happy than Joe for having accomplished this, and seeing the whale swim away free," said Conway, a friend for 18 years. 
 
 This video shows Joe Howlett in action as part of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team. Howlett died rescuing a whale tangled in fishing gear Monday. 0:51 
 
 Howlett was originally from Chester, N.S., but moved to Campobello Island, where he was married. He was the father of two adult sons. 
 
 In the 2013 interview, he said he rescued two to three whales from entanglement every year. 
 
 The team received their training and equipment from the Department of Fisheries in Halifax, including being given a 26-foot, high-speed zodiac boat, which they use to travel across the Bay whenever they were called to a rescue. 
 
 Once they arrived, they used extension poles with sharp-bladed, hooked knifes attached to the ends to cut the whales free. 
 
 The sharp blades don't hurt the whale, but cut through the ropes, said Howlett. 
 
 Then they "hang around to make sure everything is OK and the whale is happy," he said. 
 
 Howlett also defended fishermen, who he said already used weighted ropes that sink deeper to avoid entanglements. 
 
 Somehow fishermen try to make a living and they do what they do, and they have to, and whales seem to get caught every once in a while. And when it does, we are there to help out. - Joe Howlett 
 
 But the whales still got caught in them, often rolling afterwards, which made matters worse, he said. 
 
 "Somehow fishermen try to make a living and they do what they do, and they have to, and whales seem to get caught every once in a while," he said. "And when it does, we are there to help out." 
 
 Howlett added how thankful he was that whale watching cruises often stuck around until the rescue team arrived. 
 
 Rescuers a lifeline for whales 
 
 Danielle Dion, a naturalist with Quoddy Link Marine Whale Watching in St. Andrews, N.B., said she did not know Howlett personally but knew of his work and had watched the team rescue whales several times in the Bay of Fundy. 
 
 Members of the whale rescue team celebrate the last cut and freeing a whale. (CBC) 
 
 "Who better to save these whales than fishermen, they know the ropes, they know the knots and the gear and this is volunteer work they do, to go out there and help these animals," she said. 
 
 But she also stressed that "we need to figure out a way to prevent the entanglement from happening in the first place." 
 
 The rescue teams "put their lives on the line to save these animals and so many people don't know what is happening with these whales," she said, adding that she hopes Howlett's death will not affect the work of the rescue team. 
 
 In a statement Tuesday, Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc paid tribute to Howlett and his commitment. 
 
 "Taking part in whale rescue operations requires immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals," LeBlanc said. "We have lost an irreplaceable member of the whale rescue community. His expertise and dedication will be greatly missed," he said. 
 
 Guiding research team 
 
 Monday was just another day at work for Howlett. 
 
 When he left Campobello, an island off the Maine coast in the Bay of Fundy, he planned to guide a research team surveying the increased number of right whales showing up in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 
 
 Joe Howlett founded a whale rescue organization based in Campobello and participated in the rescue of many whales, including this one in August 2016. (International Fund for Animal Welfare) 
 
 They were all aboard the Shelagh, a vessel owned by the Canadian Whale Institute, and Howlett was captain. 
 
 Depending on the weather, he expected to stay out another three or four days, but the Department of Fisheries and Oceans asked for his help disentangling a North Atlantic right whale last week and another whale on Monday. 
 
 Trapped by snow crab gear 
 
 Both whales were caught in snow crab gear in the same area near Shippagan, a problem that has alarmed rescuers and scientists this summer. 
 
 When a whale is caught in gear, experts assess how badly it's entangled and then decide how to approach it, Conway said. 
 
 'He was a hero. He knew he was putting his life on the line with a 70-tonne whale that is upset.' - Jerry Conway, friend of Joe Howlett 
 
 The rescue can take up to an hour and involves about four or five people using inflatables to cut the whale free. 
 
 The Campobello team has also freed fin whales, minke whales and humpback whales. 
 
 "It's a step-by-step training process for people … and to get to the position of doing the cutting, it takes time and practice and work," Conway said. 
 
 Seven right whales were found floating dead in the gulf, likely after getting caught in fishing gear or colliding with vessels, scientists have said. 
 
 With only 525 North Atlantic right whales remaining, according to the Marine Animal Response Society, the "unprecedented die-off" represents more than one per cent of the population. 
 
 Fisherman understood threat 
 
 One of the three dead whales examined about two weeks ago got tangled in fishing gear, and two others showed signs of trauma from ship collisions, but it's not clear whether those collisions happened before or after the animals died. 
 
 Conway told Information Morning Saint John that as a commercial fisherman, Howlett knew fishing gear had become a threat to whales. 
 
 "He was very concerned about the state of the ocean and concerned about gear in the water these whales would become entangled in." 
 
 Joe Howlett was a member of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, he died while trying to rescue a whale. Stephen Smart is the Mayor of Campobello Island. Jerry Conway is an adviser for the Campobello Whale Rescue Team. 8:17 
 
 And Conway has no doubt Howlett knew what he was doing while out on the job Monday. 
 
 "He was a hero," he knew he was putting his life on the line with a 70-tonne whale that is upset … trying to deal with a wild animal." 
 
 While he was known for his rescue work, Howlett was also recognized for his commitment to the people of Campobello. 
 
 "He is an integral part of the community, not only as a fisherman but a house painter, and he was quite the entertainment at a house party." ||||| Joe Howlett helped to rescue a north Atlantic right whale that had become heavily tangled in rope and was struck by the mammal afterward 
 
 A Canadian lobster fisherman who saved dozens of endangered whales after they became tangled in fishing nets has been killed – moments after a last successful rescue. 
 
 Joe Howlett, from Campobello Island, New Brunswick, boarded a vessel off the province’s eastern coast on Monday to help rescue a north Atlantic right whale that had become heavily tangled in rope. 
 
 Seven right whales found dead in 'devastating' blow to endangered animal Read more 
 
 The rescue was steeped in urgency: in the past month, seven north Atlantic right whales have been found floating lifelessly in the Gulf of St Lawrence, off Canada. With a global population believed to be around 525, the string of deaths suggests that more than 1% of the population has died in recent weeks. 
 
 Howlett helped free the whale – only to be struck by the mammal moments later, said Mackie Green of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team. “They got the whale totally disentangled and then some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip,” Green, who was not onboard the vessel, told the Canadian Press. 
 
 Howlett had previously saved some two dozen whales over the past 15 years, making use of his deep knowledge of knots and ropes to set the huge mammals free. 
 
 Just a few days before his death, Howlett had helped liberate another north Atlantic right whale in the region, cutting away a fishing line caught in its mouth. 
 
 “Joe definitely would not want us to stop because of this,” said Green, who joined forces with Howlett to launch the whale rescue in 2002. “This is something he loved and there’s no better feeling than getting a whale untangled, and I know how good he was feeling after cutting that whale clear.” 
 
 On Tuesday, the federal fisheries department confirmed that Howlett had been killed while on one of its vessels, describing him as an “irreplaceable member of the whale rescue community”. 
 
 In a statement, the department offered its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the father of two. “Taking part in whale rescue operations requires immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals,” it noted. “There are serious risks involved with any disentanglement attempt. Each situation is unique, and entangled whales can be unpredictable.” 
 
 Howlett’s death comes amid the unprecedented loss of seven north Atlantic right whales in the past month. A team included marine biologists, federal scientists and pathologists, among others, have been racing to figure out why the whales – which live along the eastern seaboard of Canada and the US and can reach up to 16 metres (50ft) in length – are dying in large numbers. Last week, they carried out necropsies on three of the seven whales, hoping to find clues before the carcasses decompose. 
 
 While their findings are still preliminary and don’t explain why the deaths have seemingly occurred within such a short time frame, they found signs of severe blunt trauma and bruising on two of the whales, suggesting collision with a vessel, while the third had been tangled in fishing gear for weeks. ||||| OTTAWA, July 11, 2017 /CNW/ - It is with sadness that I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Joe Howlett. Mr. Howlett was a member of a non-governmental organization, Campobello Whale Rescue, who tragically lost his life yesterday while taking part in a rescue operation to disentangle a North Atlantic Right whale off the coast of New Brunswick. 
 
 Taking part in whale rescue operations requires immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals. Mr. Howlett's notable experience and contribution to whale rescue include his very recent and critical role in successfully freeing an entangled whale on July 5. 
 
 At the time of the fatal incident, Mr. Howlett was on a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) fast response vessel. DFO's Conservation and Protection officers and the Canadian Coast Guard took part in responding to the situation. 
 
 There are serious risks involved with any disentanglement attempt. Each situation is unique, and entangled whales can be unpredictable. 
 
 I am mindful of the other individuals who were on board the vessel at the time this tragic incident occurred. I recognize it is a very difficult thing to lose a friend and colleague. My thoughts are also with them during this time. I would also like to express my gratitude to all those involved in responding to the emergency. 
 
 We have lost an irreplaceable member of the whale rescue community. His expertise and dedication will be greatly missed. 
 
 Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca 
 
 Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO 
 
 SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada 
 
 For further information: Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region, 506-851-7045, Steve.hachey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca; Kevin Lavigne, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-992-3474, Kevin.Lavigne@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 
 
 RELATED LINKS ||||| By The Canadian Press on July 11, 2017. 
 
 CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, N.B. – A lobster fisherman with a passion for freeing whales from deadly fishing line was killed soon after he cut the last piece of rope from a massive whale in the waters off eastern New Brunswick, friends and colleagues confirmed Tuesday. 
 
 They say Joe Howlett had helped rescue about two dozen whales over the last 15 years. 
 
 Mackie Green of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team said Howlett had boarded a Fisheries Department vessel off Shippagan on Monday to help cut lines from a North Atlantic right whale that had become entangled in a heavy snarl of rope. 
 
 Green was not on the boat, but said he was told the 59-year-old veteran fisherman was hit by the whale just after it was cut free and started swimming away. 
 
 “They got the whale totally disentangled and then some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip,” said Green, who started the rescue team with Howlett in 2002 and had worked closely with him ever since. 
 
 “Joe definitely would not want us to stop because of this. This is something he loved and there’s no better feeling than getting a whale untangled, and I know how good he was feeling after cutting that whale clear.” 
 
 A statement from the federal Fisheries Department said only that someone was killed on board one of its vessels, but it did not provide any details out of respect for family members. 
 
 “The department is deeply saddened by this incident and sends its thoughts and condolences to the individual’s family,” spokeswoman Krista Petersen said. 
 
 Jerry Conway of the Canadian Whale Institute in Campobello, N.B., said Howlett had freed another North Atlantic right whale in roughly the same area only a few days earlier. 
 
 Conway said the death is a great loss to the community of fishermen and scientists who work to help whales trapped in fishing gear or struck by ships – the greatest threats to the endangered right whales. 
 
 “He is a very knowledgeable fishermen, and who better to do disentanglements than a fisherman who knows the knots and the ropes and the gear?” he said. “He’s going to be sorely missed by the community and he was an integral part of a very unique group of fishermen here on the island who were involved in doing the disentanglements.” 
 
 Conway, who had known Howlett since 2002, said he didn’t know the details of what happened but added that disentanglements never involve rescuers getting in the water to help free the whale. He said crews are usually on boats that are low to the water, like Zodiacs, and they use special gear to cut the ropes from the animal. 
 
 He said Howlett was the skipper of the research vessel Sheila, which was used to study right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the past month, seven right whale carcasses have been found floating in the Gulf. Tests showed one died after getting entangled in fishing gear. Injuries on the other two were consistent with ship strikes, researchers said. 
 
 Howlett left the Sheila and took his rescue gear onto the Fisheries vessel after this latest whale was spotted in the Gulf. 
 
 “He was very committed to this and he was very concerned about the state of the oceans,” Conway said. 
 
 Green said Howlett was originally from Chester, N.S., but moved years ago to Campobello Island, where he started a family and got involved in the scallop and lobster fisheries. 
 
 Friends say the death will be keenly felt on the small island of about 850 people, where Howlett was known for his humour, big laugh and generosity. 
 
 “The whole island’s in mourning here,” said Green. “Joe was the life of the party. He was always upbeat, laughing, telling jokes so the whole island’s at a desperate loss … He was a great fella and he really cared about the whales.” 
 
 – By Alison Auld in Halifax
– Joe Howlett had just tapped into his extensive knowledge of knots to free yet another whale off the coast of New Brunswick on Monday, part of his job with Canada's Campobello Whale Rescue Team, and then: "Some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip," says Mackie Green, who co-founded the rescue group with Howlett, per the Canadian Press. The Guardian reports that Howlett, a lobster fisherman who died as a result of the incident, had rescued another North Atlantic right whale just days before, bringing his total over the past 15 years or so to about 24. The region has been dealing with an alarming influx of whale deaths, with seven North Atlantic right whale carcasses being found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the past month alone—what some estimate to be about 1% of the total worldwide population. An expert from the Canadian Whale Institute tells the Canadian Press and the CBC that the 59-year-old Howlett likely wouldn't have been immersed in the water himself, as rescuers typically do their release work from inflatable rubber boats. He adds that the giant mammals can't move that much while they're tangled up in ropes, but that once a whale is freed, the rescue boat usually backs off to avoid the wrath of a possibly irate animal. Canada's fisheries department notes in a statement that it takes "immense bravery" to deal with trapped whales. And Green says his group will continue to do just that, because that's what Howlett would've wanted. "There's no better feeling than getting a whale untangled," Green says, describing Howlett to the Canadian Press as "the life of the party." (In Alaska, orcas are making off with fishermen's catch.)