Humpback comeback! Large pods seen in the Georgia Strait
Posted July 13, 2016 10:47 am.
Last Updated July 13, 2016 12:52 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – Whale watching companies are celebrating, as unprecedented numbers of humpback whales are being seen in the southern part of the Georgia Strait.
Pods of 15 to 20 whales have been spotted over the last few weeks.
Executive Director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, Michael Harris says it’s like Hawaii and Alaska right off Victoria and Port Angeles.
However, Harris says they still have yet to figure out just how “good” a news story this is.
“Because it could be an indicator of some very askew ocean conditions out there in the big ocean that may be driving this larger number of north pacific humpbacks into the inland waters,” explains Harris.
Harris believes the whales are feeding on herring, anchovies, krill and crab larvae and he hopes that is a good sign for local fisheries.
“Understanding what the flexible foraging habits of the North Pacific Humpbacks that are coming into the inland sea are, understanding what they’re eating, will greatly inform us on how to recover the population of Southern Resident Killer Whales.”
He’s also hoping that will bode well for the salmon population, and in turn, killer whales.
