Marine conservation authorities 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 incident involving the Queen of Surrey ship occurred between Grace Point and Keats Island, as confirmed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Witnesses reported that the collision took place while two humpback whales were in close proximity to the ferry, resulting in one of them being struck.
Passengers onboard the ferry, traveling from Langdale on the Sunshine Coast to Horseshoe Bay, shared their distressing experience of feeling the impact and witnessing the injured whale behind the vessel. Aspen Wing, accompanied by her son, described the moment when they felt the collision at 1:33 p.m. PT. Observers onboard raised alarm about the nearby whale, and Wing’s son spotted the injured humpback in distress off the back of the ship.
B.C. Ferries expressed deep concern regarding the incident and its potential repercussions on the whale. According to spokesperson Kit Billings, initial reports suggest that the whale unexpectedly surfaced in front of the vessel, leaving the crew with minimal reaction time. Efforts are underway to respond to the situation, inform relevant authorities, and gather precise details about the incident and its impact on the whale.
As per Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations, any vessel involved in a whale collision must promptly notify the DFO. The DFO stated that B.C. Ferries is cooperating in the ongoing investigation. A team from the DFO is actively searching Howe Sound to locate the injured whale. Tragically, nearly a year ago, another humpback whale was struck by a whale-watching company in the same area, leading to a four-year-old humpback whale’s death.
The incident has sparked discussions on the need for preventive measures, particularly reducing vessel speeds in whale habitats to avoid such tragic occurrences. The Marine Education and Research Society advocates for stricter speed limits in areas frequented by humpback whales, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent such incidents from recurring. Efforts to identify the injured whale and assess its condition are ongoing, although the likelihood of its survival is deemed extremely low following the collision.