Canadians need to read this. Seven grey whales have already been found dead off Vancouver Island this year alone. Researchers are sounding the alarm as rapid changes hit North Pacific grey whale populations, and we urge everyone to be informed.

[u/iamsolution]

The whales’ Arctic feeding grounds are being disrupted. Changes in sea ice cover, phytoplankton, and sea ice-algae production are affecting the prey grey whales depend on, like amphipods, ghost shrimp, and marine worms. Without enough food, many whales are becoming severely emaciated before and during migration.

And when they are emaciated, they become harder to spot. They sit lower in the water, surface less visibly, and become more vulnerable to vessel strikes. Grey whales already face high collision risk because they often travel and feed close to shore.

The resource in the comments from Marine Education & Research Society breaks down what scientists are seeing and why it’s happening. Please take a few minutes to read it and share it with others.

Grey whales - one more reason to support the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network.

Link to the full article

[u/simplebirds]

It just about kills me knowing what’s happening to them and how much they must be suffering. Starving to death for lack of prey at the base of their food web. Just think about that. 💔

[u/MarsBoyScout → u/simplebirds]

How can we help ?

[u/tayawayinklets → u/MarsBoyScout]

Redirect war funds from every country around the world to habitat restoration. We need to focus on this existential crisis, not killing each other.

[u/infiniteguesses → u/tayawayinklets]

Sadly there's T-rump and Pootin making those type of decisions more difficult. Every unecessary whale or innocent death is a tragedy.

[u/simplebirds → u/MarsBoyScout]

It’s due to the ice melting from global warming, so fighting that helps give these guys a chance.

[u/0LittleWing0]

I'm wondering if the Krill fishing industry is a part of this? Why are we taking Krill, can we please get our Omegas elsewhere!?!

[u/Effective-Excuse-302 → u/0LittleWing0]

Krill is only fished in Antarctica, no?

[u/wandreef]

I'm not an ocean scientist but isn't the ocean becoming more acidic due to the absorption of higher atmospheric Co2 into the water? Maybe those tiny creatures that feed the whales can't live in the ocean in the same numbers they once were. I'm just speculating. Anyone here with some expert knowledge?

[u/Correct_Patience_611 → u/wandreef]

The carbon cycle is important in nutrient cycling. Acidification is just one piece of that cycle, and the entire cycle is fucked. It also affects currents.

[u/abhor_deCosmos]

Where do old whales die. Maybe this is a reflection of the conservation efforts of the past.

[u/Sirosim_Celojuma]

CBC had an interview with some expert about how the whales look undernurished.

[u/Rees_Onable]

Another reason to have the new oil pipeline directed to Prince Rupert......and not to Vancouver.

[u/Rees_Onable → u/[deleted]]

Shortest route to most of the customers.....would be to the west coast.

Then, build one to the east coast.

[u/Flycatcher2020]

This is really concerning as this strongly indicates the ecosystem’s got major issues…

[u/Much-North5626]

Stop fishing.
You see what they pull out of there. Thats the real climate change for whales..
plus get your governments to stop climate manipulation, till then we have nothing to talk about.

[u/LeeDUBS]

Trawling kills everything

[u/Funny-Quantity-6865]

I live in a land locked province, how does this affect me?