Whale watchers in Campbell River have spotted a humpback whale tangled in fishing gear, and are appealing to the boating public to keep an eye open.
The humpback has been identified as Vector, who was born in 2021. The whale was spotted Friday near Sentry Shoal in the waters off Campbell River by ecotourism operators. The whale has at least one rope wrapped around its body.
The Marine Education and Research Society says the entanglement is difficult to see, and hopes people will be able to identify Vector by the dorsal fin. Fisheries and Oceans Canada have been notified.
Anyone who spots Vector should follow rules for approaching whales, staying at least 200 metres away, and call DFO’s Incident Reporting Line at 1-800-465-4336.
