Findings from our 2022 scar analysis study revealed that upwards of 47% of humpback whales in northern BC have suffered from and survived an entanglement.
This number does not take into account the number of whales that did not survive, or the full health impacts that may linger following an entanglement or ship strike accident. We must come together and report when these accidents occur to give whales and all other marine life the best chance at survival.
It is possible that whales that have become entangled can dislodge fishing gear on their own, however, based on the frequency and severity of entanglement scarring observed on baleen whales in Canada, this is more than likely a lengthy, painful, and exhausting process.
There is also the possibility that fishing gear dislodgement attempts will result in further chronic or acute entanglement scenarios in which chances of survival are low.
Chronic entanglement of baleen whales typically occurs when an entangled whale is initially able to dislodge or break away from a portion of the fishing gear and avoid acute death via drowning, but remaining lines (most commonly attached to one or more of the: flukes, caudal peduncle, pectoral flippers, and jaws) over time will lead to energetic deterioration and ultimately the death of the individual from secondary causes like starvation.
How to Report a Whale in Distress
Do Not Intervene
- Do not attempt to disentangle the animal
- Maintain a safe distance
- Specialized equipment and trained professionals are needed for a successful disentanglement
Observe & Document
- Record the location, GPS coordinates, direction of travel, the date and time
- Record the species
- Record any entangling gear and/or visible injuries
- Record the animal’s behaviour
- Take photographs and video
Report What You See
- DFO incident hotline at 1-800-465-4336
- Coastguard on VHF channel 16
- Record details on “Remote Report” app.
Stay Connected in remote regions with the “Remote Report” App
To make detailed observations simple in remote places, we have created the Remote Report app. Remote Report allows users to fully document marine mammals in distress in real time to ensure no details are lost before leaving the scene. Submitting your report through the Remote Report app will automatically notify key researchers and response personnel to the incident and increase the chances of survival for that animal. If you are reporting in a region without access to cellular data or internet, the report will be stored on your phone and submitted automatically as soon as an internet connection is restored.
