An advocate for marine mammals suggests that numerous ship collisions with whales are likely going unnoticed or unreported, as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) looks into another humpback whale fatality off the coast of British Columbia. Caitlin Birdsall, the executive director of the Marine Education and Research Society, revealed that the deceased whale was located on November 8 near Lasqueti Island in the Georgia Strait close to the Sunshine Coast, marking the third confirmed death since late September. The whale, identified by DFO from photos as Polyphemus, a 21-year-old whale that migrates between Hawaii and British Columbia’s waters, met an unknown fate.
Birdsall emphasized the challenge in determining if there is an uptick in whale deaths due to vessel strikes since most deceased whales are never recovered. However, she did note an increase in reported incidents over the past few months. DFO expressed its commitment to investigating the recent whale death, highlighting that vessel collisions pose a significant threat to humpback whales, whose populations have rebounded following the cessation of commercial hunting in the 1960s. Christie McMillan, a DFO researcher conducting whale surveys in the Salish Sea since 2020, shared that up to 400 humpback whales could be present in the region during the autumn, contrary to the belief that their numbers should decrease as they migrate to warmer waters.
McMillan stressed the importance of boaters recognizing the year-round presence of humpback whales in British Columbia waters. The recent spate of whale mortalities in the Strait of Georgia, including Polyphemus, underscores the concerning overlap between human and whale activities in the area. While the cause of Polyphemus’ death remains unknown pending a necropsy, McMillan confirmed that he was not one of the whales struck by vessels in the region recently.
In separate incidents, a dead humpback whale was discovered on September 18, a day after a B.C. Ferries vessel reported a whale strike, and another whale was found deceased on October 25, shortly after a whale-watching vessel from Prince of Whales acknowledged a collision with the animal. McMillan highlighted the presence of humpback whales in significant numbers during the fall months, especially in the Salish Sea and the Strait of Georgia.
Birdsall mentioned the rise in reported ship strikes lately, attributing it to vessels whose crews are aware of the legal obligation to report such incidents, particularly when passengers are on board to hold them accountable. She added that whales struck by vessels may not die immediately but could succumb to injuries weeks or months later.