Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a notable uptick in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, who serves as the marine mammal coordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, mentioned that his team has been actively addressing approximately one to two entanglements per week over the past two months. These figures align with last year’s statistics, and the team has also conducted several necropsies during this period.
In a recent incident last week, the team responded to their third callout in less than two weeks. This particular entanglement involved a humpback whale calf and its mother, discovered near the south coast of Vancouver Island entwined in over 100 meters of rope. Upon investigation, it was determined that the calf had been dragging the rope since July 5, following its disappearance from B.C.’s central coast.
The rescue team, in collaboration with U.S. counterparts, dedicated seven hours to free the entangled calf, a task that brought a sense of accomplishment to the team. Prior to this, the team had handled two consecutive entanglement cases. They spent a day and a half disentangling a whale named Wiggins for the second time within a year near French Creek on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Subsequently, they rushed to the central Island and the Alberni Inlet for another rescue mission.
Cottrell expressed concern over the increasing frequency of such incidents, noting the persistent entanglement rates without any signs of decline. He attributed this trend to the growing presence of humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters, a positive development termed the “humpback comeback,” albeit marred by entanglements with inshore fishing gear.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), highlighted the conservation efforts that have provided humpback whales with a “second chance” following near-extinction due to hunting. Despite this progress, Hildering emphasized the urgent need for effective preventive measures and education to address the entanglement crisis. She underscored that while disentanglements generate positive attention, the long-term survival outcomes for rescued whales remain uncertain.
Hildering stressed the importance of raising awareness about preventing humpback entanglements and fatalities. She recommended individuals on the water to undergo a whale-safe boating course developed by MERS, endorsed by the federal government, as a proactive step towards safeguarding marine life.