A dead humpback whale was found near the Tsawwassen ferry terminal on Friday morning, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed.
DFO spokesperson Paul Cottrell said the ministry’s mammal response team will collaborate with the local First Nation to move the humpback whale to another spot for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
He added that humpacks are not unusual in the area.
“We’re seeing an increase in humpback population in inshore waters,” he said.
“They’ve been moving back to inshore waters especially over the last decade, which has been amazing and seeing these animals in the Georgia Strait this past year has been amazing, how many humpbacks are present.”
Cottrell said in 2015, there were more than 20 large whale deaths in B.C. waters.
BC Ferries said service at the Tsawwassen terminal was operating as normal.
On Wednesday, a young killer whale was discovered on a Nootka Island beach.
The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation held a ceremony for the orca on Thursday.
With files from Erin Ubels