A whale-watching company reported an incident where one of its vessels came into contact with a humpback whale that unexpectedly surfaced near Vancouver. Prince of Whales, the company involved, mentioned that the vessel took swift action to avoid the whale, resulting in minimal contact during the maneuver. The encounter was unexpected as the crew was not actively observing the whale, leading to some passengers falling and sustaining injuries when the vessel abruptly stopped.
Emergency medical treatment was provided to four injured passengers on Granville Island, who were later transported to the hospital in stable condition by B.C. Emergency Health Services. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed receiving a report from a whale-watching vessel about a collision with a humpback whale in Howe Sound. The DFO observed the whale surfacing multiple times post-collision but has not yet identified the specific whale involved, with the company cooperating fully.
This incident follows a recent occurrence where a high-speed passenger-only ferry service ship struck a humpback whale in English Bay near Vancouver. The DFO later identified a humpback calf with a significant injury near its dorsal fin as the whale involved in the collision. Humpback whales are known to be at risk of ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, as highlighted by the DFO, mentioning factors such as whale density, ship traffic, boat size, and speed influencing the severity of such incidents.
Recent research found a deceased humpback whale near a location where it was believed to have been struck by a B.C. Ferries vessel off B.C.’s North Coast. The DFO emphasized the vulnerability of humpback whales to ship strikes, particularly in regions like the southern Salish Sea. With a high humpback whale population in the southern Salish Sea during the fall season, including the area off Vancouver, where ferry routes and whale-watching activities are prevalent, the risk of such incidents remains a concern.
Considering the anticipated poor weather conditions and high winds over the weekend, the DFO has alerted its enforcement officers and the Pacific Whale Watch Association to be vigilant for injured marine animals.