Advocates for whales express concern over undetected vessel collisions as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) investigates the death of a humpback whale, identified as Polyphemus, found off B.C.’s coast. This incident marks the third confirmed whale death since late September, with increased reporting of ship strikes noted by Caitlin Birdsall of the Marine Education and Research Society. DFO acknowledges vessel strikes as a primary threat to humpback whales, whose numbers have rebounded since the 1960s. Researchers emphasize the need for boaters to remain vigilant, as many whale deaths go unreported and affected whales might succumb to injuries long after a collision.
