BC Humpback Whale Found Dead Near BC Ferries Collision Site

Sourced from 4 news outlets · most facts from statements · no points in dispute. How we sourced this

A dead humpback whale has been found near the Grace Islands in Howe Sound, close to where BC Ferries’ Queen of Surrey struck a whale on Oct. 18 while sailing between Langdale Terminal and Horseshoe Bay.

Key facts

• The whale strike occurred in the Howe Sound area near Keats Island.
• MERS later updated that a dead humpback whale was found near the Grace Islands, close to where the Oct. 18 strike happened.
• When it was first sighted, the whale had external injuries, including a severed fluke and no tail/dorsal fin visible.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada says it cannot confirm whether the dead whale is the same animal involved in the Oct. 18 incident and that it is working to identify the animal and arrange a necropsy if feasible.

The collision occurred near Keats Island. BC Ferries says one of its crews spotted the dead whale on Monday and promptly reported it to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Dead humpback whale found near Keats Island

MERS, the Marine Education and Resource Society, said the whale was found in the same general area as the ferry strike. When it was first sighted, the animal had external injuries, including a severed fluke, with no tail or dorsal fin visible.

The discovery adds to a troubling pattern along the B.C. coast, where a third humpback whale found dead off British Columbia in two months has raised fresh concern among marine observers. BC Ferries called the discovery “a very sad development,” particularly in light of the earlier collision.

“At this point, we don’t know whether this is the same whale involved in the collision or what caused its death,” the company said, adding that it is co-operating with DFO’s assessment.

Whale identified as Notcho

MERS said the dead humpback has been identified as Notcho, an animal with sightings dating back to 2016.

The identification was based on a distinctive nick or notch on the left side of his fluke, as well as markings on his right pectoral fins.

Federal assessment still underway

DFO says it cannot yet confirm whether the dead whale is the same animal involved in the Oct. 18 incident. The department is working to identify the animal and arrange a necropsy, if feasible, to help determine the cause of death and gather more information.

Passenger accounts raise questions

MERS said passenger accounts described the whale surfacing directly in front of the ferry, then appearing behind it while thrashing, with red visible in the water. According to MERS, passengers said the vessel did not slow after the collision and that there was no communication to passengers about the impact or follow-up actions.

BC Ferries previously said the crew had little time to react.

Caitlin Birdsall, MERS’s executive director, said the organization recognizes how difficult whale strikes can be for people involved. “Nobody wants to hit a whale,” she said. She said large-vessel operators have multiple tools available to improve situational awareness.

What we don't know yet

• It has not been confirmed whether the dead whale found near the Grace Islands is the same whale involved in the Oct. 18 Queen of Surrey collision.
• The cause of the whale’s death has not been determined yet.

How outlets covered it

• CHEK News (CHEK Media Group) — “Dead humpback whale found near where BC Ferries' vessel hit whale”, Oct. 27, 2026. By Laura Brougham. Led with the dead humpback whale found near the ferry collision site. Quoted Caitlin Birdsall, executive director of MERS; BC Ferries. Not in the other reports here: the proposed use of the Whale Report Alert System by large vessels.
• CBC News (CBC/Radio-Canada) — “'Very sad development': Dead humpback whale spotted in area of B.C. Ferries collision”, Oct. 28, 2026. By Alanna Kelly. Led with a dead humpback whale spotted in the ferry-collision area. Quoted Lillian Kim with B.C. Ferries; Jackie Hildering with the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS).
• CTV News (Bell Media) — “Whale struck by B.C. Ferries vessel has died, volunteers believe”, Oct. 28, 2026. By Ian Holliday. Led with whale spotters' identification of the humpback. Quoted Marine Education and Research Society (MERS); B.C. Ferries. Not in the other reports here: Tasli Shaw's identification using photos from Emily Ashton.
• saanichnews.com — “Dead humpback whale identified, DFO investigating”, Oct. 28, 2026. By Bailey Seymour. Quoted Marine Education and Research Society (MERS); Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Not in the other reports here: DFO working with the Squamish Nation to locate the whale.

How we sourced this story

How we put this together: we compare reporting from the outlets above, draft with the help of AI tools, and an editor checks every story before it's published. Our methodology.