The following is a detailed description of my solo kayak trip through the Inside Passage from San Juan Island Washington to Skagway Alaska. I hope you enjoy reading it and looking at the photos.
Denis Dwyer
May 18, 2009
Blue whales are returning to Alaska waters in search of food and could be re-establishing an old migration route decades after they were nearly wiped out by commercial whalers.
The endangered whales, believed to be the largest animals ever to live on Earth, have yet to recover from the worldwide slaughter that eliminated 99 percent of their number, according to the American Cetacean Society. The hunting peaked in 1931 with more than 29,000 animals killed in one season.
The animals used to cruise from Mexico and Southern California to Alaska, but they had mostly vanished from Alaska waters.
However, several sightings of California whales in recent years off the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia suggest the massive mammals are expanding north again in search of tiny shrimp-like krill to eat.
Blue whales can grow up to 100 feet long and typically eat 4 tons of krill a day during the summer.
Researchers got an inkling of the trend in 2004 during a humpback whale survey in the Gulf of Alaska. In total, six whales were spotted in Alaska waters in 2004. Three were in the Aleutian Islands. Those belonged to the western Pacific group nearer to Russia.
Researchers compared photographs of the six whales with those in a photo identification catalog dating back to the mid-1980s. Positive matches were made by looking at the distinctive pigmentation of the skin on the whale's back and the shape of its dorsal fin.
One of the Gulf of Alaska whales matched a California whale. That whale had been seen five times in 1995 and 1998 near the Santa Barbara Channel off southern California.
After the 2004 sightings, one or two blue whales were spotted each year off British Columbia in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, researchers spotted five in one day, including a mother and calf, near the Queen Charlotte Islands off British Columbia. Three more were spotted the next day. There previously had been only a couple of blue whale sightings in that area in 50 years.
Researchers eventually documented 15 blue whales off the coast of British Columbia and in the Gulf of Alaska that they believe are part of the California group of about 2,000 animals. Four were matched with photos in the catalog.
Scientists say, "We speculate that this represents the re-establishment of a traditional migration pattern for an eastern North Pacific blue whale population,"
Scientists aren't certain why blue whales are beginning to migrate again to the north. One theory is that ocean conditions have changed and pushed krill farther north. The changes are believed to be part of a normal shift in ocean temperature that occurs every decade or so.
There were an estimated 350,000 blue whales before whalers hunted them to near-extinction in the 20th century. The International Whaling Commission banned hunting of blue whales in 1966, but recovery has been slow. According to the American Cetacean Society, there are an estimated 8,000 to 14,000 blue whales. The biggest number is off the California coast.
July 5, 2007
Kayaker attacked by wolf in Anderson Islands
A kayaker's life-and-death struggle with a hungry wolf on B.C.'s remote north coast -- the second wolf attack in the province in seven years, and the first thought to involve predatory intent -- has prompted a conservation officer to warn against taking wolf encounters too lightly.
"This was a predatory wolf attack," conservation officer James Zucchelli confirmed in an interview from his Bella Coola Valley office. "That fellow was perceived as a prey source. He was attacked with intent to eat. The wolf saw him and took off running at him."
Zucchelli cautioned against public alarm since such incidents are extremely rare, adding he's not heard of another predatory attack during his eight years as a conservation officer.
But he said the attack reinforces the fact that wolves are predators and capable of attacking humans under certain circumstances, including when they are desperate for food.
The fit, 31-year-old Port Moody kayaker was setting up his tent on a beach at 4 p.m. in the Anderson Islands off northwest Aristazabal Island, a straight-line distance of about 125 km north of Bella Bella, when an old female wolf emerged from the bushes and attacked, Zucchelli said.
The kayaker fought with the wolf for a few long minutes, suffering bites to his leg and hands as he attempted to pry its jaws apart and put it in a headlock.
He eventually dragged himself and the wolf several metres down the beach to his kayak, removed a 10-cm knife from his life jacket, and repeatedly stabbed the animal.
"He proceeds to start filling this thing with holes in the neck and chest area," Zucchelli said. "The wolf gives up, gurgling and bleeding, and wanders off into the trees."
Unable to paddle due to his hand injuries, the kayaker called for help on his marine radio.
Employees from the floating King Salmon Resort at Borrowman Bay, about seven km to the southeast, arrived to remove him and his gear from the island and locate the dying wolf in the nearby bushes, killing it with a shotgun blast to the head.
The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Tanu took the kayaker to hospital in Bella Bella, where he was treated and released. Zucchelli returned to the island and spotted a lone wolf on the shoreline that circled the area of the attack and then disappeared into the bush.
Subsequent tests on the dead wolf showed it did not have rabies, but was emaciated at just 25 kg. A healthy female wolf should weigh closer to 40 kg. The stomach contents included the jaw of a river otter, a feather, and bones from a rat fish scavenged from the beach.
"There was nothing good in [the wolf's] stomach -- shrapnel off the beach," Zucchelli said.
A man was severely bitten by a wolf in 2000 while sleeping outdoors in his sleeping bag at Vargas Island in Clayoquot Sound. He received more than 50 stitches to his scalp. Two young wolves who had a history of being fed by humans were killed.
That doesn't appear to be the case in this latest incident, which occurred July 5 but is only now coming to light. "There was no indication of any feeding or garbage, that anything had been placed on a regular basis on that little patch of beach to suggest a wolf attractant," Zucchelli said.
"This wasn't a beach used on a regular basis. There was no fire pit. There is no evidence these wolves had been fed by humans, period. There was nothing."
Zucchelli still plans to conduct follow-up talks with north coast fishing lodges to reinforce the importance of not feeding wild animals.
The kayaker, who was on a four-week solo trip from southeast Alaska to northern Vancouver Island, asked not to be identified or interviewed, saying he doesn't need the publicity and is concerned that news of the rare incident will only give wolves a bad image.
The Ministry of Environment estimates there is a stable or growing population of 8,000 wolves in the province.
A 2002 study by Mark McNay of the Alaska department of fish and game documented 80 cases in which wolves showed little fear of humans in Alaska and Canada over the past century.
His study documented 39 cases of aggression from healthy wolves (six involving humans with dogs), 12 of known or suspected rabies, and 29 cases of fearless but non-aggressive behaviour. Aggressive non-rabid wolves bit people in 16 cases, six of them severe. He could find no evidence of wolves having killed people.
McNay's report estimates there are 52,000 to 60,000 wolves in Canada and 7,000 to 10,000 in Alaska.
May 20, 2009
Sunken fuel truck recovered from Robson Bight
A fuel truck that could contain up to 10,000 of litres of diesel has finally been raised from the waters of Robson Bight Ecological Reserve off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
The sunken truck was first sealed in a large yellow container to ensure no fuel would escape as it rose from its resting place 350 metres below the surface. It was one of a number of pieces of logging equipment that tipped off a barge being towed through the protected waters of the orca habitat in August 2007 and sank to the bottom relatively intact.
The tank will next be tested to determine whether fuel leaked during the nearly two years it spent underwater. Another container filled with an estimated 1,200 litres of hydraulic oil was raised from the sea floor on May 16.
A representative of the Living Oceans Society, said the group was pleased the federal and provincial governments paid for the recovery operation, after they initially refused to mount the operation because of the costs.
The accident was entirely preventable and the company responsible should ultimately have to pay for the recovery. Changes have been called for in Transport Canada regulations to prevent future accidents.
"What we found out in the almost two years since this accident, is that tie-downs on barges are not a mandatory requirement in British Columbia, so all the equipment and chemicals and hydrocarbons getting moved around on the coast are not even tied down."
Prosecutors laid charges against Chemainus-based logging contractor Ted LeRoy Trucking, Campbell River's Gowlland Towing and the skipper of the tugboat Kathy L in July 2008.
The waters of Robson Bight were made into an ecological reserve in 1982 to protect the gravel and rock seafloor that orcas rub against during their yearly summer visits.
MAY 22, 2009
HUMPBACK WHALE SUCCESSFULLY DISENTANGLED
What could have been a fatal situation has been rectified thanks to quick reporting, fast action and a few lucky breaks for one humpback whale near northern Vancouver Island earlier this week.
On May 18th a humpback whale was reported entangled in a prawn set that included 11 traps and several hundred feet of lead line in Knights Inlet, near Telegraph Cove, BC. The whale, known to researchers and naturalists in the area as ‘Twister’, was entangled through the mouth with the line that leads to the buoy. The position of the entanglement and the weight of the gear, estimated to be 230 kg (500 lbs), was impairing the animal’s movement. Fortunately for this humpback whale, the entanglement didn’t last long. “A fisherman reported the entangled animal the morning after the prawn opening started” explains Doug Sandilands of Cetus Conservation and Research, who helped respond to the entanglement, “ the gear was likely only on the whale for 12-14 hours at most when he was first reported.” Due to the prompt reporting by the fisherman a rescue effort was quickly coordinated by the BC Marine Mammal Response Network, a newly formed, collaborative program overseen by Fisheries and Oceans Canada that aims to assist marine mammals in distress and track threats.
The humpback’s luck didn’t stop there; not only was the report made quickly, but expertise was coincidentally nearby. Officials and officers from Fisheries and Oceans and Cetus Conservation and Research were already in the area, near Robson Bight, where they were monitoring the recovery of equipment and a fuel truck lost from a barge into critical killer whale habitat in 2007. With expertise close at hand, attempts to start disentangling the whale started that afternoon. “Once the report was made, we started to assemble to specialized tools need for a rescue effort” says Lisa Spaven, coordinator of the Marine Mammal Response Network “we then chartered a plane to take it up to the north island, and it literally landed right where the response team was, near the whale. Once the gear was there they started within minutes”. By the evening nine of the traps and lead line had been removed from the encumbered animal. Some line and trailing gear persisted and as darkness neared, large, bright colour buoys and markers were deployed on the animal to help rescuers relocate the animal the next day to remove what remained.
The following morning, Fisheries and Oceans attempted to find the animal, but with very little success. Luck struck again for the whale, for just as the rescue crew was preparing to give up, the blow from the entangled whale was spotted in the distance. The remaining gear was removed and the whale was able to swim free by approximately 9AM on May 19th.
Not only was crisis averted for the whale, but the rescue crew was also able to keep themselves safe. “This is very dangerous to try to do, specialized training and gear are absolutely neccessary” emphasizes Spaven “No one should attempt to disentangle any animal without the expertise and gear required. If someone sees a marine mammal in distress, they should contact the BC Marine Mammal Response Network as soon as possible.” The formation of the Network allows a cohesive, organized and efficient response to marine mammal incidents in the province, but success depends on prompt and detailed reporting. If you see a distressed marine mammal, call the 24 hour, toll-free hotline at 1800 465 4336.
By tracking incidents, the BCMMRN is learning more about threats to marine mammals, and issues like entanglements are being documented. Last year, three different humpback whales were entangled in BC. Member of the public can help reduce this problem by:
- Joining the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup September 19-27 2009; the national program removes debris from beaches that could potentially entangle marine life.
-Choosing Oceanwise next time you eat seafood. Sustainable seafood aims to reduce bycatch and entanglement of non-target marine species, like marine mammals!
-Reporting all sightings to the BC Cetacean Sightings Network. Knowing more about distribution and habitat usage by cetaceans and sea turtles will help researchers identify areas where the possibility of entanglement may be more likely. Report your sightings here or by calling 1 866 I SAW ONE.
Want to do even more?
The BCMMRN is also recruiting volunteer primary responders to assist in marine mammal response efforts. Several information and training sessions are being held in the next few weeks around southern British Columbia. For more information about getting involved and upcoming training in your area contact Lisa Spaven at Lisa.spaven@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or (250) 756 7230.
CRUISE SHIP HITS RARE FIN WHALE ALONG INSIDE PASSAGE
In an incident that could reignite debate over the impact of cruise ships sailing to Alaska, a Princess vessel pulled into Vancouver Saturday with a rare fin whale pinned to its bow.
The 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess had just returned from a week-long Alaska cruise along the scenic Inside Passage -- a coastal route known for its rich wildlife.
"We were shocked and saddened by this discovery, and sincerely regret the circumstances which led to the whale's death," Princess says in a statement. "It is unknown how or when this could have happened."
Princess notes that its ships use strict whale avoidance procedures when in the vicinity of marine life.
"We are not aware that any whales were sighted as the ship sailed through the Inside Passage to Vancouver yesterday," the line adds. "We take our responsibility to be good stewards of the marine environment very seriously, and have clear guidelines for our ships on how to operate if whales are sighted nearby, which include altering course and reducing speed as required."
The Vancouver Sun reports the whale was an adult about 70 feet long. The news outlet says the whale's fin and part of its body stuck out of the water as tourists watched from Vancouver's cruise ship terminal.
The Sun reports the whale likely was struck north of Vancouver Island and authorities will do a necropsy to determine if the ship hit it while it was alive or if it already was dead at the time of impact.
The incident comes almost ten years to the day after another cruise ship, the Celebrity Galaxy, arrived in Vancouver with a whale caught on its bow. In that case, it also was an adult fin whale.
Aug. 1, 2009
Whale watching by both pleasure and whale watching boats are under close scrutiny by the Marine Mammal Monitoring program. In a move that has jolted the whale-watching industry, the U.S is proposing new rules that would almost double the distance boats must maintain from killer whales in Puget Sound.
Similar changes to marine mammal regulations are being considered by Canada.
The U.S. proposals would prohibit boats from getting closer than 200 yards (180 meters) from endangered southern resident killer whales and would also set up a half-mile (0.8 kilometer) no-go zone for most boats along the west side of San Juan Island from May to September.
Under current whale-watching guidelines, which apply in the U.S. and Canada, boats must stay 100 meters away from killer whales. An additional voluntary guideline says boats should not be within 260 meters of the west side of San Juan Island while whales are present.
A representative from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's northwest office, said the idea behind the rule change is to protect the 85 southern resident killer whales from underwater noise.
The earliest new regulations could be in place is May.
Most whale-watching boats already stay beyond the 100-yard limit. However, some whale-watching tour operators are shocked by news of the proposed changes.
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