An advocate specializing in whale conservation has raised concerns about potential unreported and unnoticed collisions between vessels and whales, as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) investigates yet another humpback whale fatality off the coast of British Columbia (B.C.). Caitlin Birdsall, the executive director of the Marine Education and Research Society, disclosed that the deceased whale was found on November 8 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 whale, identified by DFO from photos as Polyphemus, a 21-year-old whale known to migrate between Hawaii and B.C. waters, met an unknown fate. Birdsall expressed uncertainty regarding the increasing trend of whale deaths due to ship strikes, pointing out that most deceased whales go undiscovered. However, she did note a rise in reported incidents over the past few months.
DFO, in a statement, emphasized its efforts to comprehend the recent humpback whale fatality, highlighting that vessel strikes pose a significant threat to humpback whales, whose populations have rebounded since the cessation of commercial hunting in the 1960s. Christie McMillan, a DFO researcher conducting whale surveys in the Salish Sea since 2020, informed CBC News that up to 400 humpback whales could be present in the area during the fall season.
McMillan clarified that contrary to common belief, the peak presence of humpback whales occurs in the fall rather than summer months in the Salish Sea and Strait of Georgia. She stressed the importance of boaters recognizing that humpback whales inhabit B.C. waters throughout the year. The recent spate of deceased whales found in the Strait of Georgia was attributed to the overlap between human and whale activities in the region.
Polyphemus, a familiar sight in the northern Strait of Georgia, requires further examination through a necropsy to determine the cause of death. While the exact reason remains unknown, it was confirmed that Polyphemus was not one of the whales recently struck by vessels in the same area.
The unfortunate discovery of the deceased humpback whale adds to the toll of recent whale fatalities, including a humpback whale found dead on September 18 following a reported whale strike by a B.C. Ferries vessel. Another whale was discovered deceased on October 25, shortly after Prince of Whales, a whale-watching company, acknowledged a vessel’s contact with the animal. Additionally, a high-speed ferry reported striking a humpback whale near Vancouver in English Bay on October 17, resulting in injury to a calf.
Birdsall highlighted a recent surge in reported ship strikes, attributing this increase to vessels whose crews are aware of the legal obligation to report such incidents, often with passengers present to ensure accountability. She pointed out that whales struck by vessels may not die immediately but could succumb to their injuries weeks or months later.
