Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is currently probing the demise of another grey whale in British Columbia (B.C.). The carcass of a grey whale was discovered on a remote beach in Haida Gwaii on May 24. The DFO’s marine mammal response team is en route to the location to gather samples and ascertain the cause of death.
The recent discovery brings the total to eight grey whales found deceased in British Columbia this year, contributing to a concerning surge in fatalities within the population, believed to be succumbing to starvation. Paul Cottrell, the DFO marine mammal coordinator, revealed the latest fatality in a webinar hosted by the Marine Education and Research Society, shedding light on the dire situation facing grey whales.
Cottrell expressed alarm over the escalating number of deaths, emphasizing that the actual toll may be higher due to the vast coastline and remote nature of the region. He highlighted the potential for this year to surpass the record set in 2019 when 11 dead grey whales were recorded in B.C. Thus far this year, DFO has responded to four dead whales off the west coast of Vancouver Island within a span of 10 days.
The necropsy results from the sampled whales are expected to be available in approximately a month. Researchers attribute the whales’ demise to starvation as they journey back north to their feeding grounds, linking the decline in available prey in the Arctic to the fatalities.
The population of grey whales, estimated at just under 13,000, has been dwindling, with a total of 40 grey whales discovered deceased in B.C. since 2019. Notably, in 2019, a significant spike was recorded globally, with 216 grey whales found dead, leading to the declaration of an unusual mortality event.
John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, reported 23 dead grey whales found off the coast of Washington state this year. Calambokidis highlighted that the washed-up carcasses only represent a fraction of the actual deaths, with many more likely undocumented or sinking offshore.
The grey whale population in the eastern north Pacific has been classified as being of special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and listed as such under the federal Species at Risk Act since 2005.
Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society is advocating for the classification of all grey whales as endangered species in Canada to ensure their protection. This move would enable legislative measures, research funding, and educational initiatives to safeguard the grey whale population.
