By Grant Warkentin
A tangled humpback whale was freed from fishing gear last week, thanks to Canadian Armed Forces personnel from the military testing range at Nanoose Bay.
According to the Department of National Defence, the tangled whale was discovered by crew aboard the Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel (CFAV) Stikine on June 11. The Stikine is used for torpedo and sound ranging, based at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges in Nanoose Bay north of Nanaimo.
The crew worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to locate, assess, and track the whale, which they later learned has been named Artemis by researchers.
Rescue teams spent several days following the whale and removing gear when possible, and safe for the whale. On June 14, Artemis was freed from the final remaining ropes.
“This operation highlights the importance of environmental stewardship, vigilance on the water, and strong partnerships in protecting marine wildlife,” says a statement posted to social media by the Department of National Defence. “Thank you to everyone involved for their dedication and commitment to safeguarding Canada’s marine environment!”
On BC’s coast, “ghost gear” remains a significant problem for large marine mammals. DFO’s Pacific region logged roughly 5,795 units of gear units retrieved between 2020 and 2025, and the Emerald Sea Protection Society has pulled more than 55,000 kilograms off the BC coast since 2017. Much of the gear comes from lost prawn and crab traps.
Last year in September DFO rescued a different humpback whale, known as “Fader,” from entanglement in the same region.
Humpback whales in the North Pacific spend their summers in BC waters; several have been spotted recently off the shores of Campbell River this week. They travel to Hawaii to spend their time during the colder winter months.
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