Officials at Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve are asking the public for help gathering information on an incident that severely injured a humpback whale.
The whale, identified as #2583, has been observed in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait since 2013 and was spotted nearby and uninjured on June 16.
About 10 days later, biologist Janet Neilson documented the same humpback whale near Willoughby Island with a deep gash behind its dorsal fin. The injury, which may have been just hours old, appeared to be the result of contact with a propeller.
The gash was about 1 foot deep and exposed the blubber beneath the skin. Based on the size of the cut, it's estimated that whale was struck by a medium to large vessel in the water. Neilson reported that the whale was diving and appeared to be behaving normally. Park biologists are consulting with marine mammal experts to assess the whale’s likelihood of survival.
Anyone with pertinent information regarding how and when the whale was injured are asked to contact the park at 907-697-2230. Information gathered will be used to understand collisions and help develop better preventative measures to protect these iconic and long-lived animals.
The incident is the second vessel strike this year. An adult female, identified as whale #1019, was recently seen with a fresh shallow propeller wound behind her dorsal fin near Pleasant Island in Icy Strait.
An elevated number of vessel-whale collisions was observed in the area last year, and at least two whales were killed.
Humpback whales migrate during the summer to Glacier Bay, Icy Strait, and elsewhere in Southeast Alaska to feed on forage fish and krill that congregate in the region's waters. The whales attract sightseeing boats and tourists. Whales can surface in unexpected locations, and collisions happen when a boat runs over a whale or when a whale runs into a boat.
Each summer Glacier Bay National Park enacts "whale water" rules to help protect the animals. In whale waters, the NPS requires vessels to maintain a speed less than 13 knots (nautical miles per hour). In addition, vessels in all park waters are prohibited from getting within one quarter nautical mile of a humpback whale, and in some areas boats aren't allowed at all.
In recent years, the NPS also has worked closely with cruise ship officers and marine pilots to develop a whale sighting network, Whale Alert Alaska, to give ships advance warning to post an extra lookout or reduce speed. The boating public can help prevent whale strikes by knowing and following whale protection regulations in Glacier Bay and other Alaska waters. Boaters are advised to verify whale waters designations prior to entering Glacier Bay by calling 907-697-2627 or by contacting KWM20 Bartlett Cove on marine VHF radio.
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