Another two grey whales have been discovered dead off the western coast of Vancouver Island, bringing the total number of deceased whales found this year to seven. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), mentioned that hikers and a pilot reported the latest incidents over the weekend. Cottrell expressed sadness at the discovery and emphasized the need to investigate the cause of death. The concerning trend began in April when four grey whales were found dead within a ten-day period off Vancouver Island.
Researchers attribute the deaths to a significant decrease in available food in the whales’ Arctic feeding grounds. As the whales migrate back north to their feeding areas, they are reportedly succumbing to starvation due to the lack of prey. The current tally shows that a total of 36 grey whales have been found dead in the Pacific Ocean this year, with officials expressing surprise at the rate of discoveries.
John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, noted that the number of dead whales being found has raised alarm bells. So far this year, 17 grey whales have been discovered deceased off Washington state, with malnutrition being a common factor among the examined carcasses. Calambokidis expressed deep concern about the acceleration of whale deaths and highlighted that the current situation surpasses previous years in terms of the pace of mortality.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, the Marine Mammal Center and the California Academy of Sciences have confirmed 10 grey whale deaths this year, while NOAA Fisheries verified two dead grey whales off the Oregon coast. Cottrell mentioned that DFO is collaborating with partners in California, Oregon, and Washington state to address the issue collectively. As the migration season continues until June, Cottrell anticipates more whale fatalities and emphasized the importance of collecting data to assess the severity of the situation.
The grey whale population, estimated to be just under 13,000, has been steadily declining. Individuals who encounter distressed marine mammals are encouraged to report the sightings to DFO for further action.
