A company specializing in whale-watching reported a recent incident where one of its vessels collided with a humpback whale near Vancouver. Prince of Whales stated that the whale unexpectedly surfaced in front of the vessel, prompting a swift maneuver to avoid a direct impact. Despite minimal contact, some passengers on board fell and sustained injuries as the vessel came to a sudden stop.
Emergency medical treatment was provided to four injured passengers on Granville Island, who were later transported to the hospital in stable condition, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed that a collision between a humpback whale and a whale-watching vessel occurred in Howe Sound. Following the incident, the whale was observed surfacing multiple times, although its identity has not been verified yet. The DFO mentioned that the company involved is cooperating fully in the investigation.
This incident follows a recent collision between a high-speed ferry and a humpback whale in English Bay, where a humpback calf with a notable injury near its dorsal fin was identified as the struck whale.
Humpback whales are known to be at a heightened risk of ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, as highlighted by the DFO. Factors such as whale density, vessel traffic, boat size, and speed all contribute to the likelihood and severity of ship strikes. The southern Salish Sea has seen a significant population of humpback whales, especially during the fall season, with around 416 individual whales estimated in Canadian waters between Vancouver and the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The DFO has raised awareness among enforcement officers and the Pacific Whale Watch Association to remain vigilant for injured marine animals, particularly with adverse weather conditions forecasted for the upcoming weekend.
