Several dead humpback whales have been found in BC in just a few weeks, and it appears that humans may be the cause in at least two of the cases.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has identified at least four and possibly five humpback whales found dead on BC beaches or coastal areas between October 12 and November 21.
Paul Cottrell, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ marine mammal co-ordinator, says at least two of them had signs of “blunt force trauma”, indicating they may have been hit by a large object, such as a boat.
Cottrell said more research would be needed to confirm these findings and to try to determine whether the whales were hit before or after they died, but “the indications are that it was a significant impact.”
He said it would be several weeks and possibly longer before the final results of the autopsies could be released.
Jackie Hildering, director of education at the Marine Education and Research Society, says it is unusual for researchers to have access to the bodies of dead humpbacks, as they usually fall to the bottom of the ocean.
He said knowing the cause of death in these cases would provide valuable insight and a learning opportunity about how to help protect animals.
Humpbacks were considered a “threatened” species in BC until 2014, when efforts to restore their numbers were successful. The North Pacific population is still considered “of special concern” under the federal Species at Risk Act, as its numbers are recovering but not yet stable.
Series of deaths
The first dead humpback was seen on October 12-15 floating in the water near Prince Rupert on BC’s north coast. However, investigators were unable to secure the body for an autopsy, but believe they may have discovered it decomposing on a Haida Gwaii beach on November 21.
The second was found on the north side of Malcolm Island near Port McNeil, SW CC on 23 October. The young female, known to investigators as Spike, showed signs of blunt force trauma.
The body of a young female humpback named Spike was found on the north side of Malcolm Island in October. (Jared Towers/Marine Education Research Society)
This was followed on 5 November by the discovery of a dead male near the community of Massett on Haida Gwaii and another male at Naikoon Provincial Park on Haida Gwaii on 14 November.
Hildering says the researchers were able to compare the marks of the third and fourth whales with photographs of the first whale to determine that they were not the same animal.
During this time, another humpback whale was found entangled in fishing gear in Quatsino Sound near Vancouver Island. That whale survived.
Human risks
Hildering said marine traffic poses a risk to humpbacks, which often sleep or nurse their young just below the water’s surface.
He also said that because most whales sink, it can be difficult to tell when they die in a collision.
“How many whales are dead on the ocean floor? We don’t know,” he said.
A humpback floating off Wales Island, north of Prince Rupert, was the first of four dead whales discovered off the BC coast since mid-October. (Leanne Alexcee)
He said part of his organization’s mission is to teach boaters how to avoid collisions with marine mammals and what to do if they occur, and that most people in BC don’t know they have a legal responsibility to report whale attacks and entanglements in the DFO incident. Information Line at 1-800-465-4336.
Hilderning hopes that by sharing the stories of the recent deaths, and allowing people to see the bodies, more members of the public will become aware of the need to protect the species as threats to them increase due to increased sea traffic and climate change.
“There’s more boat traffic. There’s more noise. There’s also a very solid opportunity for people to get educated.”