An advocate for marine mammals highlights the likelihood of numerous unreported or unnoticed collisions between ships and whales as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) probes yet another humpback whale fatality along the British Columbia coast.
Caitlin Birdsall, the Executive Director of the Marine Education and Research Society, reveals that on November 8, a humpback whale was discovered near Lasqueti Island in the Georgia Strait close to the Sunshine Coast. This incident marks the third confirmed humpback whale death since late September. The deceased whale, a 21-year-old named Polyphemus, known for migrating between Hawaii and British Columbia waters, was the subject of the investigation.
Birdsall acknowledges the challenge of determining if the rise in reported whale deaths is due to ship strikes, emphasizing that most deceased whales remain undiscovered. Despite this, she notes an uptick in reported incidents over the past few months.
The DFO states that they are actively investigating the recent humpback whale death, recognizing vessel strikes as a primary threat to these remarkable creatures. Humpback whale populations have shown signs of recovery since the cessation of commercial hunting in the 1960s.
Christie McMillan, a DFO researcher conducting whale surveys in the Salish Sea since 2020, mentions the presence of up to 400 humpback whales in the region during the autumn months. Contrary to popular belief, she explains that the peak time for humpback whale sightings is in fall, particularly in the Salish Sea and Strait of Georgia, rather than summer.
McMillan urges boaters to remain cautious year-round as humpback whales frequent B.C. waters consistently. The recent spate of whale fatalities in the Strait of Georgia underscores the overlapping activities of humans and whales in the area, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
While the cause of Polyphemus’s death remains unknown pending a necropsy, McMillan confirms that the whale was not involved in the recent vessel collisions in the region.
The discovery of a deceased humpback whale on September 18, a day after a B.C. Ferries vessel reported a whale strike, along with another whale found dead on October 25 following an incident involving a vessel from Prince of Whales, highlights the ongoing threat of ship strikes.
Birdsall attributes the recent surge in reported ship strikes to vessels with vigilant crews and passengers who ensure compliance with reporting requirements, thereby increasing accountability. She emphasizes that whales struck by vessels may not perish immediately but may succumb to injuries weeks or months later.