Humpback Whale
Some years ago we were invited to come along on a whale watching
tour close to where we live, here at Juan de Fuca Strait on the Pacific Coast.
These tours are pricey, so to be invited as guests would
have been a bonus. However, we declined
the generous offer.
Why? For several
reasons. One, we feel those motorboat or
zodiac outings filled with curious, camera and smartphone-equipped tourists interfere
and upset the orcas and whales’ routines.
(It’s bad enough the nearby US navy has those deep sea sonar
manoeuvres.)
Two, what about if?
What about if one day a whale would ‘bump’ into one of the
sightseeing vessels?
Sure enough, only last week just off Race Rooks near Victoria,
a humpback whale hit a "Prince of Whales" zodiac, when the whale unexpectedly surfaced in front of
the vessel.
Two people were injured, and
it’s not known what injuries the whale may have incurred.So yes, the curious passengers certainly had more than
their money’s worth and a close encounter, along with a narrow escape.
Whales and orcas already face risks presented by the
presence of hundreds of cruise ships and freighters in these waters. At present there is a policy in place in Quebec to reduce
ship speed to help prevent fatal collisions, but it is voluntary. Closer to home there is a pilot project in the Haro
Strait to get ships to slow down in order to protect the critically endangered
southern resident Orcas.
Yesterday, less than 500m from our place, a pod of Orcas
showed up in the exact ‘laneway’ where the huge Alaska-bound cruise ships come
in to dock.
Over a dozen small fishing boats were gathered there, off
Ogden Point to fish for salmon.
Perhaps there was a herring run as well, since despite the
presence of all those boats (plus a couple of whale-watching vessels), the
Orcas remained in the area for a long time.
Orcas of course follow the routing of salmon, love
herring, and once in a while have a seal or otter for their meal.
Thus ends this blog post sharing with you our location
and these happenings, plus a glimpse of Man’s encounter with ocean life.
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