Tsawwassen humpback died from ship strike, DFO says

The necropsy ofadead humpback whale that washed upnear the BC Ferriesterminal in Tsawwassenon Nov. 16 show the whale died from a ship strike, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The agency says the female humpbackwhose bodydrew a crowd of onlookers to the areahad injuries consistentwith a "catastrophic ship strike with propeller injuries."

Fisheries and Oceans Canada isinvestigating the incidentand said the necropsy will aid in assessing general whale health in the area.

Another necropsyon a dead killer whale calf found on Nootka Island off the west coast of Vancouver Island on Nov. 14 was also completed. It found the calf had been born alive and likely died threeto fivedays later. The cause of death was either due to separation from its mother through loss,death, neglector failure to thrive.

The calf was a transient killer whaleand not a member of B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whale population.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada also acknowledged theMowachaht/Muchalaht and Tsawwassen First Nations communities for their ceremonial offerings before the necropsy on both the deceased killer whale and the humpback whale.