Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is looking into the demise of another grey whale in British Columbia. The discovery of a dead grey whale on a secluded beach in Haida Gwaii on May 24 prompted the dispatch of the DFO marine mammal response team to gather samples and determine the cause of death. This incident marks the eighth grey whale fatality in B.C. this year, contributing to a concerning increase in deaths within the population, believed to be linked to starvation.
During a webinar conducted by the Marine Education and Research Society to discuss the challenges faced by grey whales, DFO marine mammal coordinator Paul Cottrell disclosed the recent death. Cottrell expressed alarm at the situation, indicating that the actual number of fatalities could be higher due to the vast coastline and remoteness of certain areas, suggesting that not all deceased whales are detected.
Cottrell highlighted that the current year may surpass the previous worst year in 2019, when 11 dead grey whales were recorded in B.C. In the ongoing year, DFO has responded to four dead whales off the west coast of Vancouver Island within a span of 10 days. The comprehensive examination of these deceased whales, including sampling and necropsies, is ongoing, with results expected in approximately a month.
Researchers have pointed out that the grey whales are succumbing to starvation as they journey back to their feeding grounds up north, attributing the deaths to a significant decline in available prey in the Arctic. The grey whale population, estimated at just under 13,000, has witnessed a total of 40 deaths in B.C. since 2019.
In 2019, a notable surge was observed with 216 grey whale fatalities globally, leading to the declaration of an unusual mortality event. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has identified the eastern north Pacific grey whale population as being of special concern, with its listing under the federal Species at Risk Act dating back to 2005.
Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society is advocating for all grey whales to be classified as an 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.
Research biologist John Calambokidis from Cascadia Research Collective reported 23 dead grey whales discovered this year off the coast of Washington state, emphasizing that the actual number of deaths could be significantly higher as not all deceased whales are detected or wash ashore.