Marine animal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a high volume of whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, stated that his team has been actively addressing one to two entanglements per week over the past two months, consistent with last year’s figures. Additionally, they have conducted several necropsies during this period.
The most recent incident involved a humpback whale calf and its mother near the southern coast of Vancouver Island. The calf was ensnared in over 100 meters of rope, which it had been dragging since July 5 when it disappeared from the central coast of British Columbia. The rescue team, in collaboration with U.S. counterparts, dedicated seven hours to freeing the calf from the entanglement.
Cottrell highlighted the significance of each animal, emphasizing the team’s satisfaction in successfully aiding the calf. Prior to this rescue, the team had responded to two entanglement cases within two days. They spent time disentangling a whale named Wiggins for the second time within a year near French Creek before rushing to the Alberni Inlet for another rescue operation.
Cottrell expressed concern over the increasing frequency of entanglements, attributing it to the rising number of humpback whales in British Columbia’s coastal waters. While acknowledging the positive “humpback comeback” due to conservation efforts, he underscored the challenges posed by the interaction between humpbacks and fishing gear in nearshore areas.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), noted the progress in humpback whale conservation efforts but cautioned against overlooking the entanglement issue. She emphasized the need for preventive measures and educational initiatives to address the root causes of entanglements, pointing out that disentanglements, while crucial, are not a long-term solution.
Hildering stressed the importance of public awareness and education to minimize humpback entanglements and fatalities. She recommended taking a whale-safe boating course developed by MERS, endorsed by the federal government, to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge to protect marine wildlife.