Latest news with #MarineEducationandResearchSociety
Global News
03-07-2025
- General
- Global News
Free B.C. course aims to protect whales by better educating boaters
A British Columbia research and conservation group has launched a new free course it hopes will reduce deadly conflicts between boaters and whales. The Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) says it created the Whalesafe Boating program because of the growing risk to whales and other marine mammals from boat strikes, fishing gear entanglements and stress from people getting too close. 'Even with all our knowledge about even who individual whales are, we have had close calls with humpback whales — we see every time we're on the water, close calls involving boaters,' said Jaicke Hildering, spokesperson and whale researcher with MERS. 'We see the (propeller) scars, we see the close calls, and the kind of human injury that is also involved here is that somebody is paralyzed on our coast, somebody has had to get reconstructive facial surgery as a result of a collision, kayaks have been flipped.' Story continues below advertisement The group says there are a number of points of conflict between whales and boaters that can be addressed through better education. Whales are often oblivious to both boats and fishing gear, raising the prospect of collisions or entanglements that can lead to painful injury or even death. 0:28 Man photographed disrupting orcas with motor boat Whales often travel in predictable patterns and can surface suddenly after long dives, or can be resting or nursing just below the surface and out of sight, it adds. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It's critical education that MERS says is falling through the cracks because federal agencies are too siloed, with Transport Canada focused on boater safety and Fisheries and Oceans Canada focused on species at risk. 'We've done the work, 15 years of education, but also doing surveys of boaters, where we know that the average boater wants to do the right thing, but is having problems accessing the information to close the gap between boating knowledge and safety of marine mammals and boaters,' Hildering said. Story continues below advertisement 1:53 Whale protection program expanded Boaters should never position their vessel in the path of a whale or try to strategize how to make it come closer to them. They should also keep an eye out for signs a whale is around, such as splashes, blows and flocks of birds. Boaters should also stay on the offshore side of whales if the animals are travelling close to the shore. And if a whale surfaces near you while boating, you should stop immediately, put the engine in neutral, and move away slowly once the whale is more than 400 metres away. Anyone can sign up for the free course at the Marine Education and Research Society website.
The Province
17-05-2025
- General
- The Province
Young Bryde's whale, rarely seen in B.C., washes up dead on Vancouver Island
First Nation leaders are very concerned that the warming ocean due to human-caused climate change is contributing to whale mortality. A dead whale, known as a Bryde's whale, is pictured washed up on the beach in Port McNeill Bay on northern Vancouver Island. The whale was discovered on May 14, 2025 and has been confirmed by the Marine Education and Research Society, the 'Namgis First Nation, and the Fisheries Department as being a type of whale rarely seen in B.C. waters. Photo by Marine Education and Research So A young Bryde's whale, which is rarely seen in B.C., has been found washed up dead on Vancouver Island, according to the 'Na̱mg̱is First Nation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Nation's leaders are very concerned that the warming ocean due to human-caused climate change is contributing to whale mortality, especially since Bryde's whales don't usually travel this far north. News of the Bryde's whale comes after two dead grey whales washed up off the B.C. coast in the past week. The 'Na̱mg̱is were informed on Wednesday that a dead whale had washed ashore in Port McNeill Bay, located on the northern part of the Island. The Marine Education and Research Society, the 'Na̱mg̱is and the Fisheries Department are working together to figure out what happened to the whale. A dead whale, known as a Bryde's whale, is pictured washed up on the beach in Port McNeill Bay on northern Vancouver Island. The whale was discovered on May 14, 2025 and has been confirmed by the Marine Education and Research Society, the 'Namgis First Nation, and the Fisheries Department as being a type of whale rarely seen in B.C. waters. Photo by Marine Education and Research So A dead whale, known as a Bryde's whale, is pictured washed up on the beach in Port McNeill Bay on northern Vancouver Island. The whale was discovered on May 14, 2025 and has been confirmed by the Marine Education and Research Society, the 'Namgis First Nation, and the Fisheries Department as being a type of whale rarely seen in B.C. waters. Photo by Marine Education and Research So Initial photos suggested the whale was a Minke whale, but once on site, MERS confirmed — with the support of Bay Cetology, a cetacean research group based in Alert Bay — that the whale was a Bryde's whale, a species rarely seen in northern waters, according to a 'Na̱mg̱is press release. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Nation is deeply concerned by the death of any whale, but the rarity of this species appearing so far north makes this event particularly significant. 'Na̱mg̱is Guardians were dispatched on May 15 to monitor the site, educate onlookers, and ensure public and pet safety with respect for the animal, the release said. A necropsy has been planned to help determine the cause of death. DFO spokesperson Melanie McNabb said in an email Saturday that the department is still working on identification but said it has been preliminarily identified as a Bryde's whale, which is 'extremely rare' in B.C. waters. McNabb said the DFO will not be able to confirm cause of death until after the necropsy is performed and final reports are complete, which usually takes two to three months. 'Where possible, DFO's marine mammal response team works with partners to recover biological samples and conduct necropsies on dead whales to further our understanding of the populations and the causes of death,' McNabb added. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the meantime, the Na̱mg̱is First Nation said it will hold a blessing ceremony to honour the whale. Chief Victor Isaac said he's concerned the whale's death is connected to global warming and the pollution of the oceans. Last year, an international study found that the ocean floor is covered in plastic debris. Also last year, UBC and Ocean Wise scientists found that plastics can harm or even kill zooplankton, reducing a food source for many types of marine life. ''Na̱mg̱is First Nation is very sad and concerned with the climate crisis and the health of our oceans,' said Isaac in a statement. 'We will work with all parties to determine what has happened to this individual and hopefully come to better understand how to be the best stewards of our awi'nakola — our territory.' A dead whale, known as a Bryde's whale, is pictured washed up on the beach in Port McNeill Bay on northern Vancouver Island. The whale was discovered on May 14, 2025 and has been confirmed by the Marine Education and Research Society, the 'Namgis First Nation, and the Fisheries Department as being a type of whale rarely seen in B.C. waters. Photo by Marine Education and Research So Bryde's whales are baleen whales that feed primarily on plankton and small schooling fish. They are rarely seen in waters north of a 35-degree latitude — roughly the same latitude as Los Angeles, California, said Isaac. ticrawford@ Read More
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bryde's whale washes ashore in only known sighting of the animal in B.C.
PORT MCNEILL – Another dead whale has washed ashore on a British Columbia beach, the third over two weeks, but a marine wildlife expert says there's likely no connections to the deaths. The Namgis First Nation says in a statement that a resident reported finding the whale Wednesday on a beach near Port McNeill, B.C., and experts who have examined the animal say it's a Bryde's whale – a species rarely seen in waters north of the same latitude as Los Angeles. Jackie Hildering with the Marine Education and Research Society is among the researchers on-site, and says this is the only known sighting of a Bryde's whale in B.C. The latest discovery comes after two dead grey whales were found on B.C. coasts this month, one in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino and the other in Haida Gwaii near Skidegate. Hildering says researchers believe the deaths of the grey whales may be the result of the animals running out of food in the Arctic, making them susceptible to starvation, which wouldn't be connected to the cause of death for this Byrde's whale. Namgis Chief Victor Isaac says in the statement that a necropsy of the Bryde's whale will be done to determine the cause of death, and the community is 'deeply concerned' by the 'rarity of this species appearing so far north.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'Namgis First Nation is very sad and concerned with the climate crisis and the health of our oceans,' Isaac says. 'We will work with all parties to determine what has happened to this individual and hopefully come to better understand how to be the best stewards of our awi'nakola – our environment,' the statement says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
