Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is probing the demise of another grey whale in British Columbia. The carcass of a grey whale was discovered on a remote beach in Haida Gwaii on May 24. The DFO marine mammal response team is en route to the site to collect samples and ascertain the cause of death.
This discovery marks the eighth grey whale fatality in British Columbia this year, contributing to a concerning surge in deaths within the population due to apparent starvation. During a recent webinar held by the Marine Education and Research Society, DFO marine mammal coordinator Paul Cottrell revealed the latest death.
Cottrell expressed alarm over the escalating number of fatalities, indicating that the actual count is likely higher due to the vast coastline and remote areas where deceased whales may go unreported. He mentioned that this year could surpass the record set in 2019 when 11 dead grey whales were recorded in British Columbia.
DFO has responded to four dead whales off the west coast of Vancouver Island within a span of 10 days this year. According to Cottrell, out of the seven whales found, samples have been taken from six, and full necropsies have been conducted on four of them. The results from these necropsies are expected to be available in approximately a month.
Researchers have attributed the deaths to starvation as the grey whales return north to their feeding grounds, citing a significant decline in available prey in the Arctic. The grey whale population is estimated to be just under 13,000, with a total of 40 grey whales found dead in British Columbia since 2019.
Back in 2019, there was a notable spike in grey whale deaths globally, with 216 recorded, leading to the declaration of an unusual mortality event. The eastern north Pacific population of grey whales was classified as a species of special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and was listed under the federal Species at Risk Act in 2005.
Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society is urging the province to designate all grey whales as endangered species in Canada for their protection. This designation would pave the way for legislative measures, research funding, and educational initiatives to safeguard the grey whale population.