'Somebody on our coast is going to die': Researchers warn boaters to be wary of whales in B.C.
"Somebody on our coast is going to die as a result of collision, and ignorance is the biggest variable in who that will be." That’s the stark warning issued Friday by prominent whale researcher Jackie Hildering when talking about how some boaters are not paying attention to the dangers of humpbacks in Vancouver Island waters.
The Marine Education and Research Society says that boaters have to watch for humpback "blows" and then slow down to reduce the chance of colliding with the mammals.
Part of the group’s education involves the promotion of maps of the island showing where there is a high probability of encountering humpbacks.
"These are known areas of hotspots where we have posted them to try to reduce the risk," Hildering told CTV News on Friday.
"Our work has gone from trying to reduce the threat to whales to very much being about trying to reduce the threats to boaters," she said.
The issue of boater safety surfaced this week after a guide boat collided with a humpback when the mammal suddenly surfaced in front of the vessel as it was going through rough seas.
Hildering says there’s no possible way a blow would have been visible in the rough conditions.
"This was purely bad, bad luck," she said. "You can be a whale researcher, know the whales as individuals – and I speak from deep experience – and still have the risk of hitting the humpbacks."
Charter Tofino posted on their Facebook account: "While running in rough water we had a humpback whale suddenly surface 30 feet directly in front of the boat. I slammed (sic) 500hp in full reverse and avoided the impact but the startled whale did a tail lob and contacted the driver side of the cabin."
The impact smashed out one of the windows and left the owner/operator with a gash to his head over his right eye.
Kelly Aspinall, owner and operator of Charter Tofino shows where he was cut after a humpback whale struck his boat: (Charter Tofino / Facebook)
Owner Kelly Aspinall told CTV News in a text message that he posted about the encounter in order to remind boaters about safety.
"The reality is it was just an unlucky accident that can occur if you’re on the water daily," Aspinall said.
Aspinall says he has received some negative input about the posting, something Hildering says is very unfortunate.
"They’re big, they’re hungry, they’ve got to bulk up here and they suddenly breach – they can suddenly surface and to vilify somebody who’s actually trying to make this count for education is so unfair," she said.
"This can happen to anybody."
She says the group is grateful to Charter Tofino for sharing their compelling story to show the results of a potential collision, encounters which Hildering says happen too often.
"Boats have been disabled, somebody is now a paraplegic on our coast, kayaks have been flipped," she said.
"Humpbacks are a game-changer, we’re so lucky that they’re back in the way that they are but they can be oblivious of boats," said Hildering.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.