A Hullo Ferries passenger vessel has struck a humpback whale near Vancouver in English Bay says Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
DFO says on Friday it received a report from “a Hullo Ferries vessel of a collision with a humpback whale near Vancouver in English Bay.”
A spokesperson with DFO told CHEK News that Hullo Ferries is “fully cooperating” following Friday’s collision.
In an email to CHEK News, Hullo Ferries says “While the matter remains under investigation, we can confirm that on October 17th, our vessel Spuhels likely made contact with a whale during a scheduled sailing.”
“Upon sighting the mammal, the bridge team immediately initiated evasive action and executed a stop maneuver in accordance with safety procedures.”
As for the whale’s condition, the DFO says “The whale was observed swimming north after contact.”
Crew members with Hullo Ferries also observed the whale “moving away from the area following the incident.”
“This event is felt deeply by our crew and everyone at VIFC [Vancouver island Ferry Company, operator of Hullo Ferries]. We take our responsibility to protect marine life very seriously and strictly follow the Whale Reporting Alert System and Canada’s Marine Mammal Guidelines.”
The passenger ferry operator says it will continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation and “review all findings carefully to ensure we do everything possible to reduce the risk of future incidents in the Salish Sea.”
The DFO says enforcement offices have been alerted as well as the Pacific Whale Watch Association, “both of which have vessels in the area.”
Now DFO is reminding operators of any vessel or fishing gear involved in accidental contact with a marine mammal, to “immediately notify DFO of the incident, according to section 39 of the Marine Mammal Regulations.”
Additionally, the department encourages the general public to “report possible occurrences of whales being harassed or disturbed, and instances of collision with whales or whale entanglements.”
Reports can be made by calling DFO’s Observe, Record, Report/Marine Mammal Incident Hotline at 1-800-465-4336 or by email at: DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to know the rules around marine mammal interactions and illegal activities may be subject to severe penalties,” it states.
For current marine mammal guidelines visit: Canadian Marine Mammal Regulations.