Marine mammal rescuers operating 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 attending to an average of one to two entanglements weekly over the past two months, consistent with last year’s figures. Alongside these incidents, they have also conducted several necropsies.
The most recent entanglement occurred last week, marking the third activation of Cottrell’s team in under two weeks. The distress call involved a humpback whale calf and its mother, discovered near the south coast of Vancouver Island entangled in over 100 meters of rope. It was determined that the calf had been dragging the rope since July 5, following its disappearance from British Columbia’s central coast.
The rescue team, collaborating with U.S. counterparts, dedicated seven hours to freeing the calf from the entanglement. Cottrell expressed the team’s elation at successfully rescuing the calf, emphasizing the significance of each animal saved.
Prior to this incident, two entanglement calls were received within two days, prompting the team to spend considerable time disentangling a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek on Vancouver Island’s eastern coast. This was followed by another entanglement response in the Alberni Inlet on the central Island.
Cottrell highlighted the increasing frequency of these entanglements, underscoring the persistent issue of entanglement rates not decreasing. He noted the positive presence of numerous humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters, signaling a “humpback comeback,” albeit marred by entanglements with fishing gear.
Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) acknowledged the conservation efforts that have granted humpback whales a “second chance” following near-extinction due to hunting. However, she expressed concerns about the missed opportunities in safeguarding these creatures. Hildering stressed the importance of prevention and education over reactive measures like disentanglements, pointing out that the true survival rate post-rescue remains uncertain.
To address the pressing issue of humpback whale entanglements, Hildering advocated for increased awareness and education among the public. She recommended participation in a whale safe boating course developed by MERS, endorsed by the federal government, as a proactive step towards preventing entanglements and ensuring the safety of these magnificent marine mammals.
