The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating after a person driving a jet ski struck a grey whale off Vancouver.
Witnesses along Vancouver’s seawall saw the collision unfold in the water near Siwash Rock in Stanley Park around 7:30 p.m. PT on Monday.
Richard Savage had seen the grey whale eating close to the shore off Second Beach on Sunday and went to see the whale again on Monday evening.
“We sat there for some time watching the whale and, while we were doing that, a [jet ski] kind of ripped past Siwash Rock,” Savage said.
A few minutes later, he heard the driver travel “very quickly” towards Lions Gate Bridge and then back again towards them.
“It was coming at great speed in between the sailboats and the shoreline again,” Savage said. “The whale surfaced and the [jet ski] collided with the whale.”
He watched and said the person was “thrown” from the jet ski and heard him calling for help.
“I feel devastated for the whale,” Savage said. “It’s a shame, really, that we can’t coexist with these creatures.”
Kevin Connolly was filming the whale on Monday and captured the collision.
“This guy had previously gone past on a jet ski, like he was going at a very high speed, and the whale had [surfaced] probably about five times in two minutes,” Connolly said.
Lots of people were gathered to watch the grey whale, he said.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans confirmed it is investigating the incident. The federal department has the authority to enforce marine regulations and species protection laws.
B.C. Emergency Health Services spokesperson Vincent Chou said they were notified at 7:54 p.m. for a person in need of medical assistance on the water.
“A search and rescue crew brought the patient out … to an awaiting ambulance with primary care paramedics and an advanced care paramedic response unit,” Chou said.
Paramedics provided emergency medical care to the patient and they were transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition, the spokesperson said.
CBC News has reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard, Vancouver Police Department and RCMP for details.
This year, seven grey whales have been found dead off Vancouver Island, and experts believe many of them are starving to death as they migrate north to their feeding grounds in the Arctic.
Jackie Hildering with the Marine Education and Research Society said the collision appeared to be completely avoidable.
“The video is horrifying and is the worst case scenario or very close to it,” Hindering said.
The grey whale has been feeding off Vancouver for days, drawing crowds of people to watch it.
4 grey whales found dead in 10 days off Vancouver Island
“They’re often close to shore, and then a vessel travelling at that speed is completely disproportionate to what should be done to be safe, alert, and have the potential of being legal,” Hindering said.
She said it’s too early to tell if the animal was severely injured.
“It remains to be seen if the whale survives,” Hindering said. “It’s our responsibility to be educated. It’s a responsibility to be alert.”
The marine mammal regulations require boaters to stay a minimum of 100 metres away from grey whales and 200 metres from a grey whale with a calf.
“That might allow for charges to be laid here. But this really appears reckless and careless,” Hindering said.
