Entangled Humpback – A Chronicle

>> July 15, 2022

Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, the search for these individuals continued today. A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) boat patrolled the north shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary between Baie-Comeau and Pointe-des-Monts. A DFO plane also passed over the region, from Gaspé to Rimouski and then from Tadoussac to Sept-Îles. Wardens from the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park continued their surveillance within the marine park sector and sailed down the river as far as Forestville. The Campobello Whale Rescue Team was stationed at the Matane marina all day, ready to intervene in the event the animals were reported. Lastly, the QMMERN continued to issue advisories to keep its partners abreast of the latest developments. Unfortunately, neither the entangled individual nor H729 was found. Due to uncooperative weather that will preclude any type of intervention for at least the next three days, searches have been suspended until further notice.

GREMM identified the entangled individual as the calf of H729. The identification was confirmed by the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS).

Three boats were on the water today to try to relocate these whales: two teams from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which set sail from the Côte-Nord region, and Mackie Greene’s crew from the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, which departed Rimouski. The search extended as far downriver as Sainte-Flavie. Parks Canada staff were also on the water patrolling the marine park sector. The QMMERN issued advisories to its partners on the water, in particular the MMON, the Société des traversiers du Québec, the ferry Bella Desgagnés and the Corporation des Pilotes du Bas-Saint-Laurent. Unfortunately, neither the entangled individual nor H729 was found again.

Searches will resume tomorrow. Once again, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada and the Campobello Whale Rescue Team will oversee the north shore, marine park and south shore areas, respectively. An aerial patrol will also be carried out by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. If the whale is found, a release attempt will be made.

H729 and her calf had not been documented this year prior to this report. The first and only confirmed sighting of the entangled individual was made yesterday. The first observation of H729 dates back to the summer of 2008, when she was documented by MICS in Jacques Cartier Strait (between the Mingan Archipelago and Anticosti Island). Since then, she has been observed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2018 and 2019 by MICS, and in the estuary in 2009, 2013 and 2021 by GREMM. Her visits to the St. Lawrence are quite sporadic: she is usually seen only once or twice during the course of the summer, and generally toward the end of the season. She has never been documented with a calf before, though her sex had previously been confirmed by MICS.

>> July 14, 2022, morning

Yesterday evening, marine park wardens stayed with the animal for as long as possible. When they left the area at 5:30, the whale was in the Rimouski sector, near Parc national du Bic.

According to GREMM’s observations, the entangled individual is a calf. The mother was identified by GREMM as H729. Four boats are currently on the water trying to pin down these whales. A first team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada left Forestville early this morning and is now at Parc national du Bic; a second crew left Baie-Sainte-Catherine, heading east; Parks Canada wardens are on the water patrolling the marine park area; and the Campobello Whale Rescue Team set out from Rimouski. The QMMERN issued advisories to people on the water through the MMON, the Société des traversiers du Québec, the ferry Bella Desgagnés, the Corporation des Pilotes du Bas-Saint-Laurent, and these PDB Express publications. If the whale is relocated and conditions permit, an attempt will be made to release it.

The entangled individual was swimming freely with an adult humpback. A yellow rope ran over its back, under its right pectoral fin, and into its mouth from the left side. No traps are visible and only a few metres of rope trail behind the animal. It is possible that the two individuals are no longer together.