A B.C. Ferries vessel reportedly collided with a humpback whale on Wednesday night in the waters off the North Coast of British Columbia, approximately 130 kilometers southeast of Prince Rupert. The ferry service confirmed the incident when a deceased humpback whale was discovered in the same vicinity on Thursday morning.
According to B.C. Ferries spokesperson Ceilidh Marlow, the company expressed sadness over the incident and promptly informed Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), local First Nations, and marine researchers about the collision. Subsequently, researchers located the dead humpback around 10:30 a.m. PT near the suspected impact site.
Marlow mentioned that DFO will oversee a necropsy to ascertain the cause of the humpback whale’s demise in the upcoming days. The vessel involved in the collision was identified as the Northern Expedition, which operates the ferry route between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert.
Expressing remorse, Marlow emphasized that the company and its crew deeply feel such situations and highlighted their commitment to minimizing environmental and marine life impacts resulting from their operations. B.C. Ferries has implemented various measures, including specialized training and operational procedures, to mitigate the risk of whale strikes.