Dead humpback identified near location BC Ferries struck whale earlier this month

A deceased humpback whale has washed ashore near the location where a BC Ferries vessel struck a humpback earlier this month. 

On Sunday, October 18th, BC Ferries’ vessel Queen of Surrey struck a humpback while traveling between Horseshoe Bay and the Sunshine Coast. 

The whale strike occurred between Grace Point and Keats Island. 

Following the collision, the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) took on the responsibility of finding answers to questions regarding how this whale strike could have happened. 

MERS is a Port McNeill based organization that acts as primary responders for dead, distressed and injured marine mammals, as directed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

“According to witness accounts from passengers on the ferry, the whale surfaced in front of the bow, travelling from right to left,” said MERS in social media. 

“The whale then surfaced behind the ferry, thrashing, with red visible in the water. Passenger accounts indicate that the ferry did not slow after the collision and that there was no communication to passengers about the impact they felt or what follow-up actions might be taken.”

This week, on Monday, October 26th, a dead whale was discovered washed ashore in the area of the Grace Islands. 

Following the collision, BC Ferries reported the incident to the DFO, who have since launched an investigation. 

According to the DFO, there were two humpback whales observed in close proximity at the time of the incident, and one was struck by the vessel after surfacing in front of the ferry. 

The latest development in this situation came from the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) and the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration (CPHC), who believe they have successfully identified the deceased humpback. 

Based on photos of the dead whale, researchers were able to identify the deceased humpback as Notcho (BCX1700).

“Since the whale’s fluke is severed and the dorsal fin is not visible because the dead whale is on his back, Tasli used the markings and shape of the dead whale’s right pectoral fins to ID the whale as Notcho,” said MERS in a social media post. 

“Notcho was nicknamed by participants of the MERS 2017 Marine Mammal Naturalist course for a distinctive nick/notch out of the left side of his fluke.”

Mers noted that sightings of Notcho date back to 2016. 

This whale was known to migrate to Hawaii and has been documented feeding in the Salish Sea as of 2017, with sightings ranging from Campbell River to Washington.  

The DFO told Victoria Buzz that staff are working to confirm Notcho as the deceased whale and arrangements are being made to conduct a necropsy on it.

The federal agency also noted they are engaging with the Squamish Nation regarding the response and any social, cultural or ceremonial interests related to the deceased whale.

“This is a very sad development, particularly following the collision involving the Queen of Surrey on October 18,” said BC Ferries in a statement. 

“We recognize the concern this raises.”

The ferry operator noted they will continue to cooperate with DFO and will provide whatever information they can to support the assessment.

Last year, on October 23rd, another humpback was killed by a boat strike when a Prince of Whales vessel collided with a whale resulting in its death.