VANCOUVER — A recent incident involving a humpback whale in British Columbia has raised concerns among marine conservationists. The whale, found dead in Howe Sound, is believed to have been struck by a whale-watching boat operated by the Prince of Whales tour company. This event is considered "exceedingly rare" according to Erin Gless, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

Gless noted that she is not aware of any previous fatalities involving a whale-watching vessel. "We are certainly very upset at the loss of any whale, but it’s even more upsetting under these circumstances with a possibility that it’s associated to a professional whale-watching vessel," she said.

The deceased whale, identified as a four-year-old named Wisp, was discovered off Keats Island shortly after one of the company's vessels reportedly collided with a whale in the same area. The exact cause of Wisp's death is still under investigation by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has reported a significant rebound in humpback whale populations over the past two decades, particularly in the southern Salish Sea. The agency stated that the likelihood and severity of ship strikes depend on various factors, including whale density and vessel traffic. Recent estimates indicate that approximately 416 individual humpback whales inhabit Canadian waters between Vancouver and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Lance Barrett-Lennard, a marine mammal research scientist, expressed concern about the increasing number of boat strikes as humpback populations grow in areas frequented by high-speed vessels. He acknowledged that while no boat operator intends to hit a whale, the awareness among mariners is evolving, albeit slowly.

Gless emphasized the importance of training and best practices for whale-watching operators, which include reducing speed near whales and maintaining constant communication between vessels. She explained that the Prince of Whales vessel was in an area with no reported whale sightings when the collision occurred, resulting in three passengers requiring medical treatment.

In light of the incident, Gless urged all boaters to be vigilant. "If this could happen to a trained vessel that was actively and very carefully searching for whales, it can certainly happen to any vessel," she said.

Despite criticisms of the whale-watching industry, Gless highlighted the role these vessels play in reporting whale sightings to other boats, which can help mitigate the risk of ship strikes. She noted that whale-watching operators are often the first to alert authorities about entanglements involving whales and fishing gear.

Earlier this month, a humpback calf was injured after a collision with a ferry near Vancouver, and another dead humpback was found near Prince Rupert, also due to a vessel strike. Barrett-Lennard pointed out that high-speed vessels create more noise, which can harm whales. He suggested that reducing speeds in known whale habitats and enhancing spotting efforts could help protect these animals.

He compared the situation to traffic safety measures in school zones, stating, "The reason that we don’t hit kids all the time is because we’re incredibly careful. And there’s signs and there’s crossing guards and we’ve created a system to make it safe."