Whales in the waters of British Columbia are facing various threats, including collisions with vessels and disruptions in their food-finding abilities due to ship noise. Incidents such as a Sea-Doo striking a grey whale off Vancouver and a humpback whale being struck by a whale-watching boat highlight this concerning trend. With increasing ferry traffic and Canada’s efforts to boost shipping activities towards Asia, the frequency of these incidents may rise.
To address these challenges, two British Columbia groups have launched initiatives to aid marine wildlife. One of these initiatives is the pilot project HALLO (Humans and Algorithms Listening for Orcas) from Simon Fraser University. The project’s primary objective is to mitigate ship noise to enable endangered southern resident killer whales to locate food effectively.
Lauren Laturnus, a biology master’s student at SFU, leads the monitoring efforts in the Salish Sea, tracking whale movements and vessel traffic. By collaborating with the Ocean Wise Whale Alert System, reports on whale sightings are promptly shared with commercial mariners to prompt necessary adjustments in speed or course.
Additionally, approximately 100 volunteer citizen scientists have received training to observe whale movements around Saturna, Pender, and Mayne Islands and contribute data to the Whale Alert System. Maureen Welton, a Saturna Island resident involved in this citizen science group, emphasized the importance of collecting information to support vessels in avoiding whale collisions.
The ultimate goal of HALLO is to create a conducive environment for southern resident killer whales to feed without disturbance. These orcas heavily rely on sound for navigation, and vessel noise significantly disrupts their ability to hunt for food. With only about 74 southern resident killer whales remaining in British Columbia’s waters, effective protection measures are crucial to their survival.
Collaborating with the W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians, HALLO aims to restore the connection between First Nations people and whales to safeguard these marine ecosystems. By leveraging hydrophone recordings and indigenous knowledge, the initiative advocates for enhanced whale protection measures from the federal government.
Experts stress the urgency to extend protections to other whale species, such as humpbacks, which are vulnerable to vessel strikes globally. With an estimated 20,000 whales falling victim to ship collisions annually, efforts are underway to implement advanced technologies like a multispectral camera system that can detect whales from a distance and aid vessels in avoiding potential collisions.
Glenn Jones, the founder of Reach Technologies Inc., envisions deploying this technology on commercial vessels and ferries to enhance whale detection capabilities and minimize the risk of collisions. By promoting mutual respect and coexistence between marine wildlife and maritime activities, stakeholders aim to create a safer environment for whales in British Columbia’s waters.
