Dead grey whale found off B.C. coast brings total count this year to 10

A grey whale dives near Whidbey Island as seen from a Pacific Whale Watch Association vessel, May 4, 2022, in Washington state. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

VANCOUVER — Another dead grey whale has been discovered off the British Columbia coast, marking the 10th such discovery so far this year.

The Fisheries Department says the latest whale was spotted floating in the waters off Cape Scott Provincial Park, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island on Saturday.

The sighting was reported the next day, and the department says in a statement issued Thursday that it’s hoping the whale will be spotted again in order to locate and secure it.

Of the 10 whales discovered this season, three were found dead in a span of two weeks last month near Haida Gwaii, another four bodies were discovered in April near Vancouver Island.

In comparison, 11 dead greys were found in B.C. waters in 2019, in what was considered a record year.

The department said earlier this year that more whale deaths were expected due to lower food supplies in their northern feeding grounds last summer, and at least two of the whales found this year were described as in “extremely emaciated” condition.

The statement says that where possible its marine mammal response team tries to conduct necropsies on dead whales to get an understanding of the population and the causes of death.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2026.