By Grant Warkentin
File photo of a Fisheries and Oceans Canada vehicle. Photo by Grant Warkentin
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) isn’t saying much about what it’s calling an “incident” involving one of its patrol boats and a humpback whale near Calvert Island on August 9.
It has confirmed that two fisheries officers were injured during the Sunday event, and that the animal involved has not yet been identified.
“DFO is working with partners in the B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network to locate and identify the animal and document any injuries,” says a statement from the ministry’s communications team.
DFO says two officers suffered undisclosed injuries, but won’t release any more information.
“Our focus at this time is on the health and safety of the fishery officers involved, and protecting their privacy; therefore, no further information will be provided at this time,” says the statement.
Calvert Island is approximately 100 kilometres north of Port Hardy.
DFO encourages everyone to report possible occurrences of whales being harassed or disturbed, and instances of collision with whales or whale entanglements by calling the Fisheries and Ocean’s Observe, Record, Report/Marine Mammal Incident Hotline at 1-800-465-4336 or by email at: DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
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