Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a surge in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, responsible for marine mammals at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, revealed that his team has been addressing one to two entanglements weekly for the past two months, consistent with last year’s figures. Additionally, several necropsies have been conducted.
The most recent incident occurred last week, marking the third activation of Cottrell’s team within a fortnight. A humpback whale calf, along with its mother, was discovered entangled in over 100 meters of rope near the southern coast of Vancouver Island. Investigation revealed that the calf had been ensnared since July 5, after going missing from British Columbia’s central coast.
Efforts to free the calf lasted seven hours, with collaboration from U.S. partners. Cottrell expressed the team’s elation at successfully rescuing the calf, emphasizing the significance of each animal’s well-being.
Prior to this rescue, two entanglement calls were addressed within two days. The team spent considerable time disentangling a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek on Vancouver Island’s eastern coast before responding to another entanglement at Alberni Inlet on the central island.
Cottrell highlighted the increasing frequency of such incidents, noting a concerning lack of decline in entanglement rates. He attributed this trend to the growing presence of humpback whales in British Columbia’s coastal waters, a positive outcome termed the “humpback comeback,” albeit marred by interactions with inshore fishing gear.
Researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), Jackie Hildering, praised conservation efforts for providing humpback whales a “second chance” following near-extinction due to hunting. However, she expressed concerns about missed opportunities in safeguarding this progress.
Hildering underscored the pervasive entanglement issue, suggesting that disentanglements, while garnering attention, are not a definitive solution. She emphasized the importance of prevention and education in mitigating entanglements, advocating for initiatives like MERS’ whale safe boating course endorsed by the federal government.
Overall, the need for proactive measures to prevent humpback entanglements and fatalities remains a crucial focus in marine conservation efforts.