Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is currently looking into the recent death of another grey whale in British Columbia. The deceased grey whale was discovered on a remote beach in Haida Gwaii on May 24. The DFO marine mammal response team is en route to the location to collect samples and determine the cause of death. This incident marks the eighth grey whale found dead in British Columbia this year, contributing to a concerning increase in deaths within the population, believed to be due to starvation.
Paul Cottrell, the DFO marine mammal co-ordinator, disclosed the latest fatality during a webinar held by the Marine Education and Research Society, shedding light on the distressing situation faced by grey whales. Cottrell expressed unease over the escalating number of deaths and suggested that the actual count of fatalities may be higher due to the vast coastline and remoteness of certain areas.
Cottrell noted that 2019 saw a record of 11 dead grey whales in British Columbia, a figure that could potentially be surpassed this year. The DFO has responded to four deceased whales off the west coast of Vancouver Island within a span of 10 days, with six of the seven discovered whales sampled and thorough necropsies performed on four of them. Results from these necropsies are expected to be available in approximately a month.
Researchers have pointed out that the grey whales are perishing due to starvation as they travel back north to their feeding grounds, attributing the decline in available prey in the Arctic as a significant factor behind the deaths. The grey whale population, estimated at just under 13,000, has been dwindling. Since 2019, a total of 40 grey whales have been found deceased in British Columbia.
In 2019, a substantial increase was observed with 216 grey whales found dead worldwide, leading to the declaration of an unusual mortality event. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated the grey whale, eastern north Pacific population, as being of special concern in 2005 and listed it as such under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society is advocating for the designation of all grey whales as endangered species in Canada to ensure their protection. This call to action emphasizes the need for legislative measures, research funding, and educational initiatives to safeguard the grey whale population.