Another dead grey whale washes ashore in B.C., sparking concern over whale health, starvation, and the impacts of climate change on marine life.
Second Grey Whale Washes Ashore in B.C. Within a Week
A second grey whale has been found dead on British Columbia’s coastline, raising alarm among marine scientists and conservationists. The carcass was discovered near Skidegate in Haida Gwaii on May 11, just days after a similar incident off Vancouver Island.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has confirmed the finding and is working with local First Nations and marine mammal experts to conduct a necropsy. The process could take up to three months to determine the cause of death.
Mystery Surrounds the Deaths as Necropsy Underway
It’s still unknown which of the three North Pacific grey whale populations the deceased whale belonged to. However, the previous whale found on May 6 near Tofino was part of the Eastern North Pacific group — listed as a species of special concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
The federal department emphasized the importance of not disturbing the carcass and warned the public to keep pets away from the site.
Scientists Alarmed by Rising Grey Whale Deaths
Dr. Anna Hall, a marine biologist at Sea View Marine Sciences, expressed concern over what may be part of a much larger pattern. “We’re seeing fewer calves and more emaciated animals. Some are literally starving to death,” she said.
In fact, Mexican researchers earlier this year noted a 90% drop in grey whale calf births, alongside numerous deaths along breeding grounds in Baja California.Climate Change, Pollution, and Hunger Threaten Grey WhalesMultiple threats are bearing down on the species:
- Ship strikes
- Pollution near coastal areas
- Entanglement in fishing gear
- Dwindling food sources in the warming Arctic
Juan José Alava, from the Ocean Pollution Research Unit at UBC, said the declining health of whales is linked to disruptions in the Arctic food chain, where sea ice melt is reducing the growth of algae — the base of a food system that supports the whales’ primary prey.
“We’ve seen similar mass deaths between 2017 and 2021 — over 500 whales were found dead along the West Coast,” Alava noted. “Many were severely underweight, lacking enough blubber to survive migration.”
From Whaling Recovery to New Perils
Although the Eastern North Pacific grey whale population had rebounded after whaling was banned in 1967, current estimates suggest their numbers are returning to levels seen in the 1960s. Hall calls this a deeply troubling regression.
“What we’re seeing now mirrors the historic lows. It’s very, very concerning,” she said.
A Sad Sight with Ecological Significance
While the sight of a beached whale can be heartbreaking, experts at Parks Canada stress that such events contribute to coastal ecosystems. Whale carcasses provide nutrients for a variety of scavengers and organisms, playing an important role in the marine food web.
Still, conservationists agree: without action on climate change and improved marine protections, grey whales may continue to suffer — or vanish altogether from Canada’s coastal waters.
