The baby Humpback whale that washed up onto a White Rock beach last month died of starvation.
Federal officials say some longline fishing gear got caught in the baby whale’s mouth.
Paul Cottrell with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans says it’s too hard to pin down exactly where the gear came from, or whether it was being used or abandoned.
“It’s hard to pin it down if it’s Asian gear or from the Hawaiian longline fishery — we don’t know.”
He says Humpbacks are migrating more and more through the area.
“We’re seeing humpbacks more and more as they move into these in-shore waters and inhabit areas they’ve previously inhabited, but we are seeing more interaction with gear and other things.”
Cottrell adds people should call a hotline if they see marine mammals in distress or injured.
“The one in White Rock, we weren’t even aware of that mammal in our waters with gear on it. Maybe if we were earlier, we may have been able to do something.”
The number is 1-800-465-2336..
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