Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a significant increase in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, who serves as the marine mammal coordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, mentioned that his team has dealt with approximately one to two entanglements per week over the past two months, similar to the figures from the previous year. Apart from responding to entanglements, they have also conducted several necropsies.
In the most recent incident, which occurred last week, the team was called into action for the third time in less than two weeks. They encountered a humpback whale calf entangled in over 100 meters of rope near the southern coast of Vancouver Island, accompanied by its mother. The team traced the gear and determined that the calf had been entangled since July 5, when it was reported missing from the central coast of British Columbia.
The rescue operation to free the calf lasted seven hours and involved collaboration with counterparts from the United States. Cottrell expressed the team’s satisfaction in successfully saving the calf, emphasizing the importance of each animal’s well-being. Prior to this incident, the team had responded to two entanglement calls within two days, demonstrating the growing frequency of these events with no signs of decline in entanglement rates.
According to Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), increased conservation efforts have provided humpback whales with a “second chance” after being hunted to near extinction. However, Hildering expressed concerns that this opportunity is being squandered, noting that a significant portion of the whales she has observed show signs of previous entanglements. She stressed the need for prevention and education as more effective measures than reactive disentanglement efforts.
Hildering highlighted the importance of raising awareness about preventing humpback entanglements and deaths, advocating for individuals on the water to undergo a whale-safe boating course developed by MERS with federal government endorsement. She emphasized that while disentanglements often make positive headlines, it is crucial to consider the long-term survival and well-being of all whales affected by entanglements.