Humpback whale dead after reported ferry collision off B.C. coast  

A humpback whale has been found dead after a collision with a BC Ferry vessel off the north coast.

A necropsy is pending on a humpback whale that died after a possible ferry collision off B.C.’s North Coast earlier this week.

The crew of the Northern Expedition, a BC Ferries vessel, reported striking a whale Wednesday in Wright Sound, near Prince Rupert, according to a statement from the company.

The collision was reported to federal authorities, the local First Nations and researchers, who found the deceased cetacean around 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

“Thankfully BC Ferries did the right thing and reported (the) strike immediately,” said Grace Baer, research and project manager at B.C. Whales, on Friday.

Baer said crews couldn’t recover the carcass Wednesday evening, but mobilized “at first light” the following morning and found the whale, still floating, in the area it had been struck.

With collaboration from the Canadian Coast Guard and the local First Nations, B.C. Whales attached a line to the carcass, hauled it into the beach, and tied it to the shore for a necropsy.

The post-mortem examination could be an “all-day affair,” said Baer.

“There’s a specific team that will come assist with that on Monday morning. The whale is secured, and we’re waiting to hear back, but hopefully it can occur in the next few days.”

The whale, an adult male humpback named Midnight, has been well known among wildlife circles for several years.

“It is really unfortunate that the whale lost its life,” said Baer.

“The whales in these waters, we know them as individuals, so their loss is definitely felt by us.”

The death of Midnight would have also reverberated through the local whale population, as each member has a unique relationship with each other, she said.

Baer said action needs to be taken to prevent further collisions on B.C. waters, and boaters reducing their speed at this time of the year would be a significant first step. The area of Wright Sound where the strike occurred is known to be a heavily occupied habitat for humpback and fin whales, especially during the summer and fall months. Humpbacks, in particular, are returning in “greater numbers each year.”

“I think prevention is the key thing here,” she added.

“Whales surface unpredictably and the best thing to do, if there are known whales in the area, is just to slow down to prevent those strikes as much as possible.”

The 151-metre Northern Expedition ferry was built in 2009 and has a capacity of 638 people and 115 cars.

The vessel is used to service BC Ferries’ northern routes,  including between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy.

With files from The Canadian Press