Environment

Dead humpback whale in Howe Sound was struck by B.C. ferry

The whale, identified as Notcho, was hit on Oct. 18 and found deceased near Gambier Island this week.

By Bianca Ferraro, Environment Reporter
October 29, 2026

HOWE SOUND · Fisheries and Oceans Canada says a dead humpback whale found in Howe Sound was hit by a B.C. ferry last week. The Queen of Surrey struck the animal on Oct. 18 while sailing between Langdale Terminal and Horseshoe Bay. Passengers aboard felt the collision, which occurred between Grace Point and Keats Island. Crew members spotted the deceased whale floating near Grace Island on Monday and reported it to federal officials, who recovered the carcass.

Witnesses saw the whale surface after the impact with significant blood in the water, according to Caitlin Birdsall of the Marine Education and Research Society. Paul Cottrell with the DFO's marine mammal response team confirmed on Tuesday that the found whale was the one struck. He reported the animal's tail fluke and peduncle were missing. "Unfortunately, we were not able to identify which animal was involved in that strike, due to lower quality pictures at the time," Birdsall said.

How was the whale identified?

The whale was identified as Notcho, a humpback known in the Salish Sea since at least 2016. The Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration, a catalogue of coastal humpbacks, confirmed the identity. A Gambier Island resident, Emily Ashton, photographed the carcass bobbing in West Bay on Tuesday and sent the images to researchers. "It's really quite tragic and upsetting to see a large animal like that, in that state; it was just kind of bobbing on the shoreline," Ashton said. "It's devastating."

Researchers matched distinctive markings on the whale's pectoral flipper to a long-term data set. Notcho was named for a notable notch in the left side of its tail fluke. Jackie Hildering with MERS noted the dead whale had external injuries and was missing its tail. Birdsall said Notcho migrated annually, travelling "down to Hawaii to breed and then comes up to our waters to feed in the summertime."

What happened during the collision?

Passenger Aspen Wing and her son observed the humpback blow blood into the air immediately after the ferry strike on Oct. 18. B.C. Ferries spokesperson Lilian Kim called the subsequent death "a very sad development." The company stated it is offering support to the crew who experienced the collision. In a statement, BC Ferries said, "We share these waters with whales and other marine wildlife, and take that responsibility seriously." Birdsall said the location and timeline make it highly likely the dead whale is the same one that was struck. The company outlined existing measures to reduce strike risks, including crew training and marine mammal reporting procedures. Its statement added, "We have measures in place to help reduce the risk of vessel strikes, including crew training, marine mammal reporting procedures and operational practices intended to reduce interactions with whales."

What is the context for whale strikes in B.C.?

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is leading the investigation into this incident. It is the latest in a series of vessel collisions with whales in local waters. Last October, a humpback was struck and killed by a whale-watching vessel near Keats Island. In September 2025, a B.C. Ferries vessel fatally struck a humpback in Wright Sound, followed by a strike involving a Hullo Ferries vessel off Vancouver a month later. This past May, a grey whale was hit by a Sea-Doo operator near English Bay. Birdsall said additional tools like slow-down zones, alert systems and detection technology could help prevent future strikes. B.C. Ferries said it continues to review its practices with federal and conservation partners. The company committed to "identify opportunities to further reduce these risks."

With files from Global News and CBC News