'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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
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.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'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.