Marine mammal rescuers operating on Vancouver Island have reported a surge in whale entanglements this summer. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, stated that his team has been dealing with approximately one to two entanglements per week over the past two months, a rate consistent with the previous year. In addition to responding to entanglements, they have also conducted several necropsies.
The most recent entanglement incident occurred last week when the team was called to assist a humpback whale calf and its mother near the south coast of Vancouver Island. The calf had become ensnared in over 100 meters of rope, which it had been dragging since July 5 after going missing from B.C.’s central coast.
The rescue team, in collaboration with U.S. counterparts, spent seven hours freeing the calf from the entanglement. Cottrell expressed the team’s satisfaction in saving the calf, emphasizing the importance of every animal’s well-being.
Prior to this rescue, the team had responded to two entanglement calls within two days. They worked tirelessly to disentangle a whale named Wiggins for the second time in a year near French Creek and also responded to a call in the Alberni Inlet on the central Island.
Cottrell highlighted the increasing frequency of entanglement incidents, attributing it to the rising number of humpback whales in British Columbia’s inshore waters. While the humpback population recovery is a positive development, it has led to more interactions with fishing gear, posing a threat to the whales.
Jackie Hildering, a researcher and educator at the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), acknowledged the conservation efforts that have given humpback whales a “second chance” after being hunted to near extinction. However, she expressed concerns that this opportunity is being jeopardized by the ongoing entanglement issues.
Hildering emphasized the need for prevention and education to address the entanglement problem effectively, stating that disentanglements, while important, are not a long-term solution. She urged the public to be informed about whale-safe practices and recommended taking a whale-safe boating course developed by MERS with government approval.
The situation underscores the critical importance of proactive measures to safeguard marine mammals and reduce entanglement risks, as humpback entanglements continue to pose a significant threat to these majestic creatures.