A humpback whale collided with a whale-watching vessel near Vancouver, catching the crew by surprise during transit. The incident involved minimal contact with the whale as the boat swiftly maneuvered to avoid it. Despite the abrupt stop, some passengers fell, resulting in a few minor injuries.
Emergency medical treatment was promptly administered to four injured passengers at Granville Island by paramedics from B.C. Emergency Health Services. These individuals were then transported to the hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed the collision report from the whale-watching vessel in Howe Sound. Following the incident, the whale was observed surfacing three times, although its identity remains unconfirmed. The DFO stated that the company is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This event follows a recent occurrence where a high-speed passenger ferry between Vancouver and Nanaimo struck a humpback whale in English Bay. The DFO identified the injured whale as a humpback calf with a deep gash near its dorsal fin, emphasizing the susceptibility of humpback whales to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.
Humpback whales are at a heightened risk of ship strikes, as demonstrated by a previous incident involving a dead humpback near the North Coast of British Columbia. The DFO highlighted that the likelihood and severity of ship strikes are influenced by various factors such as whale density, vessel traffic, and boat size and speed.
The southern Salish Sea has seen a significant humpback whale population in recent years, with approximately 416 individual whales spotted in Canadian waters between Vancouver and the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Notably, the southern Strait of Georgia off Vancouver registers high whale density in October, coinciding with active ferry routes and whale-watching activities.
As precautionary measures, the DFO has alerted enforcement officers and the Pacific Whale Watch Association to monitor injured animals, especially with anticipated adverse weather conditions and strong winds over the weekend.