Marine conservation authorities are currently on a quest to locate an injured humpback whale that was hit by a B.C. Ferries vessel in Howe Sound over the weekend. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) disclosed that the incident involving the Queen of Surrey ferry occurred in the vicinity of Grace Point and Keats Island. During the collision, two humpback whales were sighted near the ferry, with one of them being struck.
Passengers aboard the ferry, en route from Langdale on the Sunshine Coast to Horseshoe Bay, reported feeling the impact of the whale being hit and witnessing its distress behind the vessel. Aspen Wing, traveling with her son, recounted the moment they sensed the collision at 1:33 p.m. PT. Upon hearing a group of girls alerting about a nearby whale, her son spotted the injured humpback at the back of the ferry. Wing expressed how many passengers were deeply troubled by the distressing scene of the whale in distress, with some feeling sickened by the sight.
B.C. Ferries expressed profound concern about the incident and its potential repercussions on the whale. Spokesperson Kit Billings mentioned that initial reports indicated the whale surfaced abruptly in front of the vessel, leaving little time for the crew to react. Efforts have been concentrated on addressing the situation, informing relevant authorities, and gathering precise details about the incident’s consequences.
Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations stipulate that any vessel operator involved in a whale contact must promptly notify DFO. DFO confirmed that B.C. Ferries is cooperating, with a DFO team in Howe Sound actively searching for the injured whale. Almost a year ago, a humpback whale was struck by a whale-watching company near Keats Island, leading to the subsequent discovery of a deceased four-year-old humpback whale in the same vicinity. The deceased humpback was identified as BCY1464, alias Wisp, with an ongoing investigation initiated by DFO.
Various incidents of whale strikes have been reported recently in coastal regions, underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures. The Marine Education and Research Society, represented by Jackie Hildering, emphasized the significance of preventive actions to avert such tragedies. Advocating for reduced vessel speeds in whale habitats, the society aims to implement measures that can mitigate the risk of future collisions. Notably, the Northern Expedition route, where a humpback whale was previously fatally struck, has adopted a slower travel speed in response to the incident.
Hildering stressed the importance of prevention and underscored that even a slight reduction in vessel speeds could significantly lower the likelihood of fatal collisions. The Queen of Surrey was traveling at 16 knots during the recent strike, with its typical speed ranging between 19 to 19.5 knots in the area, dependent on conditions. Efforts are underway to ascertain the identity of the whale involved in the collision, with Hildering expressing skepticism about the whale’s survival chances given the circumstances.