Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a significant increase in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, indicated that his team has been dealing with one to two entanglements per week over the past two months, consistent with last year’s figures. Alongside these incidents, they have also conducted several necropsies.
The latest rescue mission occurred last week, marking the third activation of Cottrell’s team in less than a fortnight. They responded to a distress call concerning a humpback whale calf entangled in over 100 meters of rope near the southern coast of Vancouver Island, accompanied by its mother. Investigation revealed that the calf had been ensnared since July 5, when it went missing from the central coast of British Columbia.
Efforts to free the calf spanned seven hours, with collaboration from U.S. counterparts. Cottrell expressed satisfaction at successfully saving the calf, underscoring the importance of each animal. Prior to this, two entanglement incidents occurred within two days, involving the rescue of a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek and another entanglement in the Alberni Inlet.
Cottrell highlighted the escalating frequency of such incidents, attributing the rise to the increasing presence of humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters intersecting with fishing gear. Despite celebrating the “humpback comeback” resulting from conservation efforts, concerns persist regarding entanglement risks.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), emphasized the importance of conservation efforts in granting humpback whales a “second chance” following near-extinction due to hunting. However, she cautioned against squandering this opportunity, citing photographic evidence indicating a high prevalence of previous entanglements among whales.
Hildering advocated for a shift towards prevention and education as more effective strategies, expressing doubts about the long-term survival rates of disentangled whales. She stressed the need for informed actions to prevent humpback entanglements and fatalities, promoting MERS’ whale-safe boating course endorsed by the federal government as a proactive measure for those navigating the waters.