Off the western coast of Vancouver Island, more grey whales have been discovered dead, adding to a total of seven found deceased this year. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), mentioned that two dead grey whales were reported over the weekend by a hiker and a pilot. Cottrell expressed sadness over the discovery, highlighting the need to investigate the cause of death.
Back in April, a troubling trend began when four grey whales washed up dead within a span of 10 days on Vancouver Island. Cottrell described the condition of the whales as extremely emaciated, resembling “a bag of bones.” Researchers attribute the deaths to a significant decrease in available prey in the whales’ Arctic feeding grounds, leading to starvation during their migration back north.
A total of 36 grey whales have been found dead in the Pacific Ocean this year, as confirmed by official counts. John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, expressed surprise at the rate of whale mortalities, stating his growing alarm. Cascadia Research Collective has documented 17 grey whale deaths off Washington state this year, with malnutrition being a common factor among the examined whales.
Calambokidis expressed concern over the increasing pace of whale deaths compared to previous years, highlighting the worrying trajectory. In 2019, during an “unusual mortality event,” 216 grey whales were found dead, marking a previous peak in mortalities. Cottrell mentioned collaboration with partners in California, Oregon, and Washington state to address the concerning trend and possible population decline.
As the grey whale migration continues northward until June, Cottrell anticipates more whale carcasses to be discovered. Efforts are ongoing to collect samples and data from the deceased whales to better understand the severity of the situation. The grey whale population, estimated to be just under 13,000, has been steadily declining. Individuals witnessing distressed marine mammals are encouraged to report sightings to the DFO.