A whale watching company in British Columbia is mourning the loss of a humpback whale that may have been struck by one of its vessels. The company, Prince of Whales, expressed its devastation following the discovery of the dead whale off Keats Island in Howe Sound. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently investigating the incident, which was confirmed on Saturday.

On Thursday afternoon, one of Prince of Whales' boats reportedly made "unexpected contact" with a humpback whale near the location where the deceased whale was later found. Initially, the company stated that the contact was minimal. However, in a revised statement, they acknowledged that not all parts of the whale were visible at the time of the incident. They believe the dead whale could be the same one involved in the strike, based on the timing and location of the discovery.

The company noted that they were not actively observing whales when the humpback "suddenly surfaced directly in the vessel’s path." Despite performing an emergency stop maneuver, the vessel made contact with the whale. The deceased whale has been identified as a four-year-old humpback nicknamed Wisp, according to photos shared on social media.

In a statement, Prince of Whales said, "We are devastated by this news. For decades, Prince of Whales has been an advocate for whale conservation, educating guests from around the world on the importance of protecting marine life." They also emphasized the need for vigilance among all boat operators in the Salish Sea, stating, "If an event like this can occur with a vessel staffed by professionals actively searching for whales, it can happen to any boat at any time."

The company previously reported that the sudden stop caused some passengers to fall, with three requiring medical treatment upon returning to Vancouver. Following the strike, the Fisheries Department noted that the whale was seen surfacing three times.

In recent months, multiple humpback whales have been struck by vessels in the area. A calf was observed with a deep gash on its back after a ferry strike in Vancouver’s English Bay earlier this month. Additionally, another humpback was found dead after a BC Ferries crew reported a strike in Wright Sound near Prince Rupert in September.

Prince of Whales is cooperating with federal officials during the investigation. The Fisheries Department has indicated that the humpback whale population is increasing along the coast of British Columbia, which raises concerns about vessel strikes as a significant threat to these marine mammals. They noted, "As humpback whale numbers increase, their overlap with human activities and vessel traffic is also increasing," adding that humpbacks can be "quite oblivious of boats" and challenging to spot while feeding or resting.