Whale-Watching Vessel Collides with Humpback off Vancouver, Injuring Passengers

A whale-watching vessel operated by Prince of Whales near Vancouver had to make a sudden evasive maneuver to avoid a humpback whale that unexpectedly surfaced in its path, resulting in minimal contact with the whale but causing several passengers to fall and sustain injuries, with four hospitalized. The company emphasized the encounter was a surprise as the whale was not being actively monitored, and it has cooperated fully with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), which confirmed the whale was seen surfacing multiple times after the incident. This event is part of a series of recent ship strikes involving humpback whales in the area, including a previous ferry strike on a calf near English Bay that caused a deep gash. DFO highlighted that humpback whales are particularly vulnerable to ship strikes and entanglements, with risk factors including whale density, vessel traffic, and boat speed. Prince of Whales provided refunds to all passengers affected and expressed regret over the rare occurrence. Authorities continue to monitor the situation amid increasing vessel traffic and a growing population of humpback whales in the southern Salish Sea.