Marine mammal 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, 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, multiple necropsies have been conducted.
In the most recent incident, occurring just last week, the team responded to a distress call involving a humpback whale calf entangled in over 100 meters of rope near the southern coast of Vancouver Island, alongside its mother. The calf had been dragging the rope since July 5, when it was reported missing from the central coast of British Columbia. The rescue operation lasted seven hours, with collaboration from U.S. counterparts, resulting in the successful freeing of the calf.
Prior to this event, two other entanglement cases were handled within a span of two days. The team spent a day and a half disentangling a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island before swiftly responding to another entanglement call in the central Island and the Alberni Inlet.
According to Cottrell, the frequency of such incidents is on the rise, with no signs of entanglement rates decreasing. He noted the increasing presence of humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters, attributing it to successful conservation efforts. However, he raised concerns about the challenges posed by the overlap with inshore fishing gear.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), highlighted the positive impact of conservation efforts on humpback whales, emphasizing the importance of prevention and education in mitigating entanglement risks. Hildering expressed worries about the sustainability of disentanglement efforts in ensuring the long-term survival of whales post-rescue, advocating for a stronger focus on proactive measures and community awareness.
She stressed the necessity of educating individuals on preventing humpback entanglements and fatalities, recommending participation in MERS’ whale-safe boating course endorsed by the federal government as a proactive step towards safeguarding marine life.
The escalating entanglement incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by marine ecosystems, emphasizing the critical need for collaborative conservation efforts and public engagement to protect marine wildlife.
[Image: A mother whale, with her calf who was towing over 100 meters of rope for what is estimated to be approximately a month. The calf was eventually freed. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)]