A Second Chance with Giants

HUMPBACK WHALE POPULATIONS of our coast were devastated by whaling. The last whaling station in BC only closed in 1967. As a result, Humpbacks remained an uncommon sight off our coast for many decades.

But, as many of us who are fortunate enough to live on this coast know, Humpback Whales have made a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction. We have a second chance with these awe-inspiring giants.

It is so important that coastal British Columbians know the realities resulting from the increased overlap between Humpback Whales and human activities. Not only do whales die as a result of collision with boats and entanglement in fishing gear, there have also been very significant human injuries and material loss; for example: a boater is paralyzed as the result of collision, kayaks are flipped, and motorized vessels disabled.

One of the most common misconceptions about Humpback Whales and other baleen whales is that they know where fishing gear and boats are and that they will avoid them. But, unlike toothed whales, such as Orca, they do not have the same bio-sonar capabilities.

Humpbacks appear particularly unaware of boats and fishing gear when feeding and these whales are very hungry when they are in the rich, cold waters of BC.

They have lost a lot of weight in the warm water breeding grounds and bulk up here before migrating again.

Adding to the acute need for awareness by mariners is that Humpbacks can also be resting or nursing just below the surface; they can unexpectedly surface after long dives; and/or they can suddenly become acrobatic.

A further dangerous misconception is that Humpbacks are travelling in a predictable direction. Reality is that many of these whales return to feed in the same, very specific areas of our coast year-after-year. Rather than being in transit, travelling in a straight line, they are often travelling in unpredictable patterns in one area having specialized in feeding in that area.

Please see below for information on reducing threats from www.SeeABlowGoSlow.org

• Be vigilant at all times. Know a whale could suddenly surface and that there are Humpbacks off our coast at all times of the because not all Humpbacks migrate at the same time. Some leave later and some return earlier.

• Give whales space. We recommend staying at least 200 metres away from these large, unpredictable whales. National law is to stay 100 metres away but this becomes 200 metres when the whales are resting or with a calf. It is difficult to determine whale behaviour or when there is a mother with a calf, which is also why it is better to always stay at least 200 metres away.

• Always be on the lookout for blows and other indi cators of whale presence such as large aggregation of birds. Humpbacks and some bird species share the same food sources, such as krill and small schooling fish. Therefore, the presence of birds can signal an increased chance of whale presence.

• Watch for vessels flying the Whale Warning Flag. This signals that whales are in the area and boaters should slow down and increase vigilance. You can help by obtaining a Flag.

• Familiarize yourself with areas known to have a greater likelihood of whale presence and be extra vigilant in these areas.

• Know the laws and best practices whereby you can reduce risk, model the best boat behaviour, and help with reporting incidents and violations. Note that it is the law that collisions and entanglements must be reported. The DFO Incident Reporting Line is 1-800-465-4336 (or Coast Guard VHF 16).

We were never meant to figure it out alone. Counselling can help.

Our preliminary research conducted in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) indicates that approximately half the Humpback Whales off the coast of BC have scars showing that they have survived at least one entanglement. This provides an indication of how serious the risk of entanglement is but does not reveal how many Humpbacks die after becoming entangled. Dead whales often sink whereby it cannot be known how they died.

• With great urgency, report the entanglement with location to the DFO Incident Reporting Line 1-800-465-4336 (or Coast Guard VHF 16).

• If possible, remain with the whale at a distance until trained help arrives or another boat takes over tracking, otherwise the chances of relocating the whale are diminished.

• Take whatever video/photos are possible to help identify the individual whale and their entanglement but maintain a distance that doesn't stress the whale (at last 100 metres).

• Do NOT attempt to remove any fishing gear or rope from the whale. Not only would this risk human safety (has led to human death) but it can make things much worse for the whale and is against the Marine Mammal Regulations.

Often, much of the fishing gear in which the whale is entangled is not visible at the surface. If well-intentioned but untrained people remove what is at the surface, it then becomes much more difficult for professionals to remove what is below the surface.

The fishing gear at the surface:

• Makes it easier to find the whale back because it can be recognized as being entangled.

• Allows for the attachment of a tracking tag to find the whale.

• Is essential during the rescue to attach floatation to maintain contact with and slow down the entangled whale and best assess how to proceed with the greatest chance of success.

The Marine Education and Research Society is a registered Canadian charity based on northeastern Vancouver Island in the Territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw (the Kwak'wala-speaking Peoples). Research and education efforts are coast-wide.

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