Marine mammal rescuers on Vancouver Island have reported a busy summer dealing with whale entanglements. Paul Cottrell, who coordinates marine mammal activities for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, stated that his team has responded to an average of one to two entanglements per week over the past two months. This rate is consistent with last year’s figures, with several necropsies also conducted during this period.
The most recent entanglement incident occurred last week when a humpback whale calf, along with its mother, was discovered near the south coast of Vancouver Island ensnared in over 100 meters of rope. The calf had been entangled since July 5, having gone missing from B.C.’s central coast.
Cottrell’s team successfully freed the calf after a seven-hour operation, collaborating with U.S. counterparts. This rescue marked the third activation of his team in less than two weeks. Prior to this, they had disentangled a whale named Wiggins for the second time within a year near French Creek before responding to a call in the central Island and the Alberni Inlet.
The rise in entanglements is a concerning trend, with no indication of a decrease in entanglement rates. Cottrell highlighted the increasing presence of humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters, a positive outcome known as the “humpback comeback,” but lamented the concurrent rise in entanglements due to inshore fishing gear.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), emphasized the importance of conservation efforts in providing humpback whales with a “second chance” after being hunted to near extinction. However, Hildering expressed concerns about the persistent entanglement threats, noting that half of the whales she has studied exhibited past entanglement signs, potentially underestimating the actual numbers.
While disentanglements garner attention, Hildering stressed that prevention and education are more effective long-term solutions. She advocated for increased awareness and education on preventing humpback entanglements, recommending the MERS-developed whale-safe boating course endorsed by the federal government for individuals navigating the waters.