A humpback whale was found dead off B.C.’s North Coast after a suspected collision with a B.C. Ferries vessel; DFO will investigate cause of death.
Whale Found Dead Near North Coast After Ferry Incident
A humpback whale was discovered dead Thursday morning near B.C.’s North Coast, following a suspected collision with a B.C. Ferries vessel the previous evening. The incident occurred approximately 130 kilometres southeast of Prince Rupert.
Ferry Service Reports Possible Contact
B.C. Ferries confirmed one of its vessels, the Northern Expedition, may have struck a humpback whale in Wright Sound Wednesday night. “We are saddened to report that last night one of our vessels believes it made contact with a humpback whale in Wright Sound,” said spokesperson Ceilidh Marlow in a statement.
The ferry immediately reported the incident to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), local First Nations, and marine researchers.
Recovery Efforts Underway
Marine researchers located the whale around 10:30 a.m. PT Thursday near the suspected collision site. B.C. Whales, a non-profit organization, assisted in securing the animal to shore until authorities can conduct further investigation.
Janie Wray, CEO of B.C. Whales, highlighted the challenges of the remote fjord system where the whale was found, noting the region is home to a high concentration of humpbacks. “It’s a really emotional day for us. There are whales in this area we consider family,” she said.
Cause of Death to Be Determined
DFO will co-ordinate a necropsy in the coming days to determine whether the collision caused the whale’s death. “These situations are felt deeply by our crews and our company,” Marlow said. “We take our responsibility to mitigate the impacts of our operations on the environment and marine life very seriously.”
Mitigation Measures in Place
B.C. Ferries emphasized that it maintains multiple measures to reduce the risk of whale strikes, including specialized crew training and operational protocols. Despite these measures, whale strikes appear to be occurring more frequently, likely linked to a growing humpback population in the region, Wray said.
Calls for Additional Protections
Wray called for the establishment of slow-down zones in high-traffic areas along the coast to better protect whales. “There just needs to be a slow-down zone in certain areas along this coast,” she said, underscoring the community’s deep connection to the marine mammals.
Stay connected with Canada’s latest headlines — follow Maple News Wire on Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn.
