Marine animal 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, revealed that his team has been responding to an average of one to two entanglements per week over the past two months, consistent with the previous year’s figures. The most recent incident involved a humpback whale calf and its mother near the south coast of Vancouver Island, entangled in over 100 meters of rope.
After tracking the gear, Cottrell’s team discovered that the calf had been dragging the rope since July 5, when it went missing from B.C.’s central coast. The team successfully freed the calf after a seven-hour operation, collaborating with U.S. counterparts. This rescue came after two other entanglement cases within a short span of two days, highlighting the growing frequency of such incidents.
The rise in humpback whale populations in British Columbia waters, heralded as a positive development, has unfortunately led to more interactions with inshore fishing gear, according to Cottrell. While acknowledging the humpback comeback as a conservation success story, he emphasized the pressing issue of entanglements persisting without a decline in rates.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), commended the conservation efforts that have given humpback whales a “second chance” after being on the brink of extinction due to historical hunting. However, she expressed concerns about the current situation, noting that a significant percentage of whales she has observed showed previous signs of entanglement, indicating a pervasive problem that needs urgent attention.
Hildering emphasized the importance of prevention and education as key strategies to address the entanglement crisis effectively. While acknowledging the positive impact of rescue operations, she stressed the need for long-term survival assessments post-disentanglement, urging a focus on broader initiatives to mitigate entanglement risks and safeguard whale populations.
Efforts to raise awareness and promote whale-safe practices, including undertaking a whale-safe boating course developed by MERS with government endorsement, are crucial steps recommended by Hildering to prevent further entanglements and protect these majestic marine creatures.
