A whale-watching company reported an incident where one of its vessels encountered a humpback whale unexpectedly surfacing in its path near Vancouver. The company, Prince of Whales, stated that the vessel took prompt action to avoid the whale, resulting in minimal contact. The encounter, which occurred without active whale viewing, led to some passengers falling and sustaining injuries as the vessel braked suddenly.
Emergency medical treatment was provided to four injured passengers on Granville Island by B.C. Emergency Health Services, and they were subsequently transported to the hospital in stable condition. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed receiving a report of the collision with the humpback whale in Howe Sound and mentioned that the whale was observed surfacing multiple times post-collision.
The DFO stated that the whale’s identity has not been confirmed yet, and the company is cooperating fully with the investigation. This incident follows a recent case where a high-speed passenger ferry struck a humpback whale in English Bay. Researchers have highlighted the vulnerability of humpback whales to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, emphasizing the need for caution in areas with high whale density and ship traffic.
Recent studies have shown a significant population of humpback whales in the southern Salish Sea during the fall season, with a concentration of 416 whales in Canadian waters between Vancouver and the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The DFO has issued alerts to enforcement officers and the Pacific Whale Watch Association to watch out for injured animals due to anticipated poor weather conditions and high winds over the weekend.