Whales in British Columbia waters are facing threats such as vessel strikes and disruption of food-finding abilities due to ship noise. Disturbing incidents include a Sea-Doo colliding with a grey whale in Vancouver and humpback whales being struck by various vessels, leading to fatal consequences. This concerning trend is expected to escalate with increased ferry traffic and trade activities in the region.
To address this issue, two initiatives in British Columbia are taking action. One of them, the HALLO project by Simon Fraser University, focuses on reducing ship noise to aid endangered southern resident killer whales in locating food sources. Lauren Laturnus, a biology master’s student at SFU, uses surveying equipment to monitor whale movements in the Salish Sea and track vessel traffic to assess potential risks to marine life.
The HALLO project collaborates with the Ocean Wise Whale Alert System to provide real-time alerts to commercial mariners, prompting them to adjust their speed or course to avoid whale collisions. Additionally, over 100 volunteer citizen scientists are trained to monitor whale activities around certain islands and report their observations to the Whale Alert System.
The primary goal of HALLO is to create a safer environment for southern resident killer whales to feed without disturbances. These orcas heavily rely on sound for navigation and are adversely affected by vessel noise pollution. With only about 74 southern resident killer whales left in British Columbia waters, urgent conservation efforts are essential to protect this endangered species and their main food source, the declining chinook salmon.
In collaboration with the W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians, HALLO is advocating for enhanced protections for marine life in the region. By leveraging a combination of scientific data and Indigenous knowledge, these groups strive to influence government policies to establish year-round vessel restricted zones to safeguard marine mammals from vessel strikes.
Experts emphasize the critical need for increased protections for humpback whales and other large marine mammals vulnerable to vessel strikes. An estimated 20,000 whales worldwide fall victim to vessel collisions annually, with species like humpbacks, grey whales, and fin whales being most at risk. Efforts are underway to develop innovative technologies like a multispectral camera system to detect whales near vessels and enable timely avoidance measures to prevent collisions.
As commercial vessels and ferries navigate these waters, the importance of coexisting with marine life and respecting their habitats is paramount. Initiatives like HALLO and advancements in technology aim to mitigate the impact of vessel strikes on whales, fostering a harmonious relationship between maritime activities and marine conservation efforts.
