More gray whales have been discovered deceased along the western shores of Vancouver Island, making the total count seven fatalities this year. Reports from a hiker and a pilot led the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) marine mammal coordinator, Paul Cottrell, to two new dead gray whales over the weekend. Cottrell expressed sadness over the situation, emphasizing the need to investigate and determine the cause of these additional deaths.
In April, a concerning trend began when four gray whales washed up lifeless on Vancouver Island within a mere 10-day span. Cottrell described the condition of the stranded whales as extremely emaciated, resembling mere skeletons. Researchers attribute the deaths to a significant reduction in available food sources in the whales’ Arctic feeding areas, resulting in starvation as they journey back north to their feeding grounds.
The recent spike in gray whale mortalities, including a total of 36 deaths in the Pacific Ocean this year, has raised alarms among experts. John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, expressed growing concern over the unexpectedly high rate of whale fatalities. He noted that malnutrition was a common factor among the examined deceased whales, with 17 gray whales found dead off Washington state this year alone.
Calambokidis highlighted the urgency of the situation, citing that the pace and volume of gray whale deaths are unprecedented and worrisome. He recalled the record high of 216 gray whale deaths in 2019 during an “unusual mortality event.” The current year has seen 10 gray whale fatalities in the San Francisco Bay Area, confirmed by the Marine Mammal Center and the California Academy of Sciences, as well as two deaths off the Oregon coast, verified by NOAA Fisheries.
Collaboration efforts between DFO and partners in California, Oregon, and Washington state are underway to address the escalating mortalities. Cottrell voiced the collective concern regarding the declining population and increasing mortality rates, expressing hopes for a reversal of this trend. As the migration season continues until June, more deceased whales are expected to be discovered, prompting ongoing monitoring and data collection efforts to assess the severity of the situation.
The gray whale population, estimated at just under 13,000, has been declining, emphasizing the critical need for conservation efforts. Individuals witnessing distressed marine mammals are encouraged to report such instances to DFO for prompt assistance and intervention.