Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Autumn is the season of whale song on the Pacific Northwest Coast, says longtime researcher Janie Wray.
Male humpbacks off the B.C. coast are beginning to get vocal — practising and modifying a supernatural and intricate song that is transmitted and almost simultaneously adopted among themselves before and during their winter migration to warmer climes.
Continue reading It’s a new season of whale song on the West CoastEditor’s note: Another example of humans negatively impacting nature, the story of the humpback whale’s comeback and a glimpse into the history of First Nations whaling.
By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tofino, BC – On July 22 an entangled humpback whale was reported to be seen off the coast of Leonard Lighthouse, near Tofino.
Since the initial sighting Fisheries and Oceans Canada, alongside Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society (SIMRS), have struggled to relocate the humpback and encourage community members to call the DFO marine mammal incident reporting hotline if seen, while remaining 200 meters away.
Continue reading Entangled humpback whale reported off the coast of Tofino
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It was a good news, bad news year for humpback whales residing in the Salish Sea on the West Coast.
Nearly 400 humpbacks were sighted in 2022, the highest number on record, said researcher Tasli Shaw, project lead for Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea (HWSS), which identifies and catalogues marine mammals in the region.
Continue reading Humpback whales are riding a crosscurrent of hope and concern
By Kaitlyn Bailey, Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The North Pacific humpback whale population is still at risk with a recommended status of “special concern”, announced the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on Dec. 8.
Since commercial whaling for humpbacks was outlawed in 1966, the North Pacific population has been slowly growing, COSEWIC stated. They added that more than 4,000 whales spend time off the coast of B.C., but there are still risks.
Continue reading Endangered wildlife committee keeps B.C’s humpback whales on the listBy Kaitlyn Bailey, Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A humpback whale appears to have made a difficult journey from waters in northern B.C. to Hawaii, despite an injury leaving her tail almost completely immobile.
Continue reading Severely injured humpback travels from B.C. to Hawaii
