Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is currently looking into the demise of another grey whale in British Columbia. The discovery of a deceased grey whale on a remote beach in Haida Gwaii on May 24 prompted the DFO marine mammal response team to mobilize for sample collection and investigation into the cause of death. This incident marks the eighth grey whale fatality in British Columbia this year, highlighting a concerning increase in deaths within the population, with signs indicating starvation as a leading cause.
During a webinar organized by the Marine Education and Research Society shedding light on the challenges faced by grey whales, DFO marine mammal co-ordinator Paul Cottrell disclosed the recent fatality. Cottrell emphasized the gravity of the situation, expressing concerns that the actual number of fatalities may exceed those reported due to the vast coastal areas and isolation, leading to potential missed incidents.
Cottrell noted that this year’s toll could surpass the record set in 2019 when 11 dead grey whales were found in British Columbia. The DFO team has already responded to four whale carcasses along the west coast of Vancouver Island within a span of 10 days, having conducted full necropsies on four out of the seven whales examined.
Results from these necropsies are anticipated to be available in approximately a month. Researchers have attributed the deaths to starvation as grey whales migrate northward to their feeding grounds, pointing to a significant decline in available prey in the Arctic as a probable cause for the mortality surge.
The grey whale population, estimated at just under 13,000, has been diminishing, with 40 grey whale fatalities recorded in British Columbia since 2019. The year 2019 witnessed a notable spike globally, with 216 grey whale mortalities prompting the declaration of an unusual mortality event.
John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, reported 23 dead grey whales in Washington state this year, highlighting the challenge in documenting all fatalities as many whales do not wash up or remain unseen offshore. The grey whale population in the eastern north Pacific region has been classified as a species of special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and listed under the federal Species at Risk Act in 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 enhanced protection measures. This call to action includes provisions for legislative support, research funding, and educational initiatives.