Two DFO officers hurt in humpback whale encounter off B.C. coast
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says officers were injured near Calvert Island on Sunday; the agency is working to locate and identify the whale involved.
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Two Fisheries and Oceans Canada officers were injured during an encounter between a vessel and a humpback whale near Calvert Island on Sunday.
The nature of the officers' injuries has not been disclosed. DFO said it is working with partners in the B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network to locate and identify the animal and document any injuries. The agency has not confirmed the exact nature of the incident or whether it involved a vessel strike.
Vessel strikes are a growing threat to whales, according to the non-profit Ocean Wise, which reports that global shipping traffic has increased by 300 per cent over the last two decades. The organization says most strikes go unnoticed by boat operators.
DFO is asking members of the public to report all instances of collisions with whales to its marine mammal incident hotline at 1-800-465-4336.
The facts
Where did the whale encounter happen?
Two Fisheries and Oceans Canada officers were injured near Calvert Island, off the B.C. coast, on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
What is DFO doing about the incident?
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working with partners in the B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network to locate and identify the humpback whale involved and document any injuries it sustained.
