Marine conservation officers are currently on the lookout for an injured humpback whale that was hit by a B.C. Ferries vessel in Howe Sound over the weekend. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) reported that the collision involving the Queen of Surrey ferry occurred between Grace Point and Keats Island. According to reports, two humpback whales were seen near the ferry at the time of the incident, and one of them was struck.
Passengers on board the ferry, traveling from Langdale on the Sunshine Coast to Horseshoe Bay, felt the impact of the whale being hit and witnessed it in distress behind the vessel. Aspen Wing, traveling with her son, recalled feeling the collision at 1:33 p.m. PT. She mentioned that her son spotted the injured humpback whale off the stern of the vessel after a group of girls alerted them about the nearby whale.
B.C. Ferries expressed serious concern over the incident and its potential impact on the whale. The company’s spokesperson, Kit Billings, stated that based on initial reports, the whale surfaced suddenly in front of the vessel, leaving the crew with minimal time to react.
Efforts are underway to locate the injured humpback whale, with a DFO crew currently searching in Howe Sound. This incident follows a similar one almost a year ago when a humpback whale was struck by a whale-watching company near Keats Island in Howe Sound, resulting in the death of a four-year-old humpback whale shortly after. DFO identified the deceased whale as BCY1464, also known as Wisp, and initiated an investigation into the matter.
To prevent such tragic incidents, marine experts are advocating for slower vessel speeds in whale habitats. Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society emphasized the importance of prevention and urged for positive changes to safeguard marine wildlife. Recent measures, such as reducing travel speeds in certain areas, have shown promising results in minimizing the risk of fatal whale strikes.
Despite the challenges, efforts are ongoing to identify and assess the condition of the humpback whale involved in the recent collision. Hildering emphasized the severity of the impact, stating that it is highly unlikely for a humpback whale to survive such a collision.