Marine mammal rescuers working on Vancouver Island have reported a surge in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, in charge of marine mammals at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, mentioned that his team has been addressing one to two entanglements weekly for the past two months, similar to last year’s figures, along with conducting several necropsies.
Their most recent intervention involved a humpback whale calf and its mother near the south coast of Vancouver Island. The calf was discovered entangled in over 100 meters of rope, which it had been dragging since July 5 after going missing from B.C.’s central coast.
After a seven-hour operation, Cottrell’s team, in collaboration with U.S. counterparts, successfully freed the calf from the entanglement, marking a significant rescue effort. This rescue followed two previous incidents within a short timeframe, underscoring the escalating frequency of entanglements that show no signs of decline.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), highlighted the positive resurgence of humpback whales due to conservation efforts. However, she expressed concerns about the persistent entanglement issues, emphasizing the need for proactive measures such as prevention and education to safeguard these majestic creatures.
While disentanglements garner attention, Hildering stressed that they are not a long-term solution. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness and educating individuals, recommending participation in whale-safe boating courses developed by MERS and endorsed by the federal government to mitigate humpback entanglements and fatalities.