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B.C. Ferries says it is altering the timing of one of its main routes in northern B.C. in an effort to avoid hitting humpback whales.
Starting June 1, the schedule for the Northern Expedition, which provides service between Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island, will be changed to reflect the slower travel time required to reduce whale strikes, a B.C. Ferries spokesperson said.
The changes are being brought into effect after a humpback was hit and killed by the ferry in September 2025.
The Gitga’at First Nation identified the humpback as Midnight, “a returning visitor to our waters and an important part of the local ecosystem.”
A new all-electric, passenger-only ferry is charging ahead after receiving approval from the Vancouver Park Board last week. It will be operating in an area commonly frequented by humpback whales. The CBC’s Alanna Kelly has the details on what impact this could have to wildlife.
The death was one of a series of other fatal humpback strikes in B.C. waters, attributed to an increase in both the whales and ships in the region.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the growing pressures vessel traffic places on whales and other marine species in the traditional lands and waters of the Gitga’at Nation,” the nation said in a release at the time.
“For generations, our people have lived in close relationship with these waters and the wildlife that inhabit them. The loss of Midnight is felt deeply by our community and those who work closely with these marine mammals.”
Reduced speeds won’t fully solve problem: researcher
B.C. Ferries says after consulting its own standards as well as with local First Nations, it has been operating at reduced speeds in areas “with high marine mammal presence,” particularly the Wright Sound special operation area off of B.C.’s North Coast.
As a result, the ferry operator said, arrivals in Prince Rupert have only been on time 30 per cent of the time, resulting in a need to update the posted schedules.
“The most notable change is a longer transfer wait time at McLoughlin Bay for southbound Route 28A connections, increasing by about 50 minutes. Arrivals at Port Hardy and Prince Rupert will occur later than previously scheduled, but these changes do not affect onward connections,”
B.C. Ferries said in an email.
Sean Brillant, a senior conservation biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, said that while lower speeds can help prevent strikes, they aren’t likely to eliminate them altogether.
“Even when they’re going at seemingly slow speeds like 10 knots, it could still be a very dangerous situation for that whale,” said Brillant.
“The best solution is to not have vessels in places where there are whales,” Brillant said.
Having restricted areas and detection technology also helps.
“If we can detect the whales early, there is a belief we can reduce vessel strikes,” Brillant said.
