Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a significant increase in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, mentioned that his team has been actively responding to an average of one to two entanglements per week over the past two months. This frequency is consistent with the figures from the previous year, with several necropsies also conducted.
In a recent incident, the team was called to assist a humpback whale calf and its mother near the south coast of Vancouver Island. The calf was entangled in over 100 meters of rope, which it had been dragging since July 5 when it was reported missing from the central coast of British Columbia. The team, in collaboration with U.S. counterparts, spent seven hours successfully freeing the calf from the entanglement.
Cottrell highlighted the importance of such rescue efforts, emphasizing that every animal is valuable. Prior to this incident, the team had responded to two entanglement calls within a two-day period. They dedicated a day and a half to disentangling a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island before rushing to the Alberni Inlet on a subsequent call.
The rise in entanglements is a growing concern, with no indications of a decrease in entanglement rates. Cottrell pointed out the increasing presence of humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters, attributing it to a positive trend known as the “humpback comeback.” However, he expressed concerns about the overlap between these whales and inshore fishing gear.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), acknowledged the conservation efforts that have provided humpback whales with a “second chance” after being hunted to near extinction. Despite this progress, Hildering cautioned that this opportunity is at risk of being wasted. She stressed the urgency of prevention and education as crucial strategies in mitigating entanglements and ensuring the long-term survival of whales.
Hildering highlighted that while disentanglements garner attention, they do not address the root cause of the issue. She emphasized the need for proactive measures and public awareness to prevent humpback entanglements and fatalities. Hildering recommended taking a whale-safe boating course developed by MERS, endorsed by the federal government, as a step towards safeguarding marine life.