A B.C. Ferries vessel reportedly collided with a humpback whale on Wednesday night off B.C.’s North Coast, approximately 130 kilometers southeast of Prince Rupert. The ferry service confirmed on Thursday morning that a dead humpback whale was discovered near the same location where the incident occurred.
B.C. Ferries spokesperson Ceilidh Marlow expressed regret over the incident and stated that the vessel crew promptly reported the collision to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), local First Nations, and marine researchers. Subsequently, researchers located the deceased humpback whale around 10:30 a.m. PT on Thursday in close proximity to where the vessel is suspected to have struck the whale. Marlow mentioned that DFO will lead a necropsy to determine the cause of death in the upcoming days.
The vessel involved in the collision was identified as the Northern Expedition, which operates between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. Marlow emphasized the company’s commitment to minimizing the environmental and marine life impacts of its operations and highlighted various measures in place to reduce the risk of whale strikes, such as training and operational protocols.
Efforts to locate and recover the whale were initiated with the assistance of Janie Wray, CEO of the non-profit B.C. Whales. Following notification from DFO about the collision, a team member ventured out at dawn on Thursday and located the whale floating on the water’s surface near the suspected impact site. The non-profit team secured the whale to the shore pending further investigation by DFO.
Wray noted the remote and humpback whale-rich fjord system where the incident occurred and expressed concerns about the rising frequency of whale strikes potentially linked to the increasing humpback whale population. She advocated for designated slow-down zones in specific coastal areas to protect these animals, emphasizing the strong emotional connection many locals have with the whales.
The situation was described by Wray as emotionally challenging, as the local community considers some humpback whales in the region as part of their extended family.
