Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a high volume of whale entanglements during this summer season. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, stated that his team has been dealing with an average of one to two entanglements per week over the past two months, consistent with the previous year’s figures. Additionally, several necropsies were conducted alongside these rescue operations.
In the most recent incident last week, the team responded to their third call within less than two weeks. They encountered a humpback whale calf, along with its mother, entangled in over 100 meters of rope near the south coast of Vancouver Island. Investigation revealed that the calf had been dragging the rope since July 5, when it was reported missing from the central coast of British Columbia.
After seven hours of effort, the team successfully freed the calf with the assistance of U.S. counterparts. Cottrell expressed the team’s satisfaction in saving the calf, emphasizing the importance of each animal’s well-being.
Preceding this rescue, the team had to disentangle a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek on Vancouver Island’s eastern coast. They then swiftly responded to another entanglement call in the Alberni Inlet on the central Island. Cottrell highlighted the increasing frequency of these incidents and the concerning trend of entanglement rates not declining.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), noted the positive impact of conservation efforts on humpback whale populations, attributing their recovery to a “second chance” after being nearly extinct due to hunting. However, Hildering expressed concerns about the ongoing threats to humpback whales, particularly entanglements.
She emphasized the need for preventive measures and education to address the entanglement issue effectively. Hildering pointed out that while disentanglements generate positive publicity, they do not offer a long-term solution. She stressed the importance of raising awareness and promoting safe boating practices to prevent humpback entanglements.
The situation underscores the critical need for continued efforts to protect marine wildlife and mitigate the risks they face in coastal waters.