Whales survived in BC waters long before humans arrived, but modern threats like ship strikes and drone harassment pose unprecedented challenges to their survival and well-being.
Cue the “whale police,” also called the Whale Protection Unit of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, set up to serve and protect whales.
Trouble is, this year the force is so busy, an officer says they need more help.
“We are so busy. We are trying to do our best but it seems like we need more officers.”
Dan Vo, field supervisor, Whale Protection Unit
The most common complaint this year is of people operating drones too close to whales. The second top issue is ship strikes, with a dozen reported so far in 2024. Officers say that this represents an increase in the number of vessel strikes.
The eight-member force was set up by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to look out for the endangered creatures protected under the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act.
The Whale Protection Unit is based in Victoria and Annacis Island near Delta, and its officers “survey the seas and protect whales in a territory that spans 200 kilometres, from Campbell River to Ucluelet,” reported West Coast Now.
“We are so busy,” Dan Vo, a field supervisor with the unit, told a reporter from Glacier Media. “We are trying to do our best but it seems like we need more officers.”
Vo said the force is constantly dealing with drones, entangled whales, ship strikes, and reports of whale watchers getting too close to marine animals.
“Marine mammals can be disturbed by drones, which are considered an aircraft.”
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations require people to stay 400 metres away from all killer whales in southern BC waters, 200 metres from killer whales in all other Canadian Pacific waters, 200 metres away when a whale, dolphin, or porpoise is in a resting position or with a calf; and 100 metres away for other whales, porpoises, and dolphins.
Earlier this year, Strong Coast reported on the case of an illegal drone film shoot that netted River Road Films Ltd. a $25,000 fine, plus a $5,000 fine for drone operator Mathew Hood.
River Road Films Ltd. pleaded guilty to illegally using drones to film Northern Resident Killer beach rubbing. “This is the first time a fine was issued in Canada for the unlawful use of a drone to capture killer whale footage,” the DFO said in a statement. “Marine mammals can be disturbed by drones, which are considered an aircraft.”
In the Glacier Media interview, Vo said that drone disturbances can affect whale feeding and socializing behaviours. Vo estimated the force has nearly 1,000 active files related to drones, of which he expects more than 600 will result in violations.
On top of drone violations and whale strikes, the cases involve commercial whale-watching vessels, kayakers, and people swimming too close to whales, putting themselves as well as the animals at risk.
If you see a whale in distress or witness a violation of Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations, phone the DFO incident reporting hotline at 1-800-465-4336 if you have cell phone service, radio the coastguard on VHF channel 16, and/or document the details in the Remote Report phone app. Document the incident with photos/videos from a safe distance, including GPS coordinates.
Read the Glacier Media story here.
