A timeline of boat strikes and entanglements involving humpbacks in B.C. waters

A timeline of boat strikes and entanglements involving humpbacks in B.C. waters | iNFOnews.ca
The damaged dorsal fin of a humpback whale calf known as "Skipper" is seen in the waters of the Georgia Strait, B.C., in a Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Sara Jenkins (Mandatory Credit)

There’s been a surge in boat strikes and entanglements involving humpbacks in British Columbia waters, two of them thought to have been fatal to the whales.

Here are some recent incidents.

Oct. 23: A Prince of Whales whale-watching boat hits a humpback in Howe Sound. A whale known as Wisp is found dead days later in the same area.

Oct. 22: A humpback known as Astroboy is disentangled from 140 metres of rope in waters near Nanaimo.

Oct. 17: A Hullo Ferries vessel strikes a whale near Vancouver’s English Bay. A humpback calf is later spotted with a deep gash in its back.

Sept. 24: A humpback known as Fader is untangled from fishing gear in a six-hour operation off the coast of Nanaimo.

Sept. 17: The Northern Expedition, a BC Ferries vessel, strikes a whale in Wright Sound near Prince Rupert. A dead humpback is found nearby the next day.

Sept. 4: An operation begins near Texada Island off the Sunshine Coast to untangle fishing gear from a young humpback known as Tutu. The effort lasts three days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

Related Articles