Statement from the Gitga’at First Nation

September 19, 2025

The Gitga’at First Nation is deeply saddened to learn that the humpback whale known as Midnight (BCX1940) was struck and killed in Wright Sound by a BC Ferries vessel on September 17, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Midnight, first sighted in 2020, was a returning visitor to our waters and an important part of the local ecosystem. Like many humpback whales, the whale returned year after year to feeding hotspots, highlighting the critical role these water ways play in their life cycle and the broader marine environment.

Midnight’s carcass has now been secured by researchers from BC Whales and Gitga’at Oceans and Lands (GOLD) staff so that a further investigation and necropsy can take place in the coming days.

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. 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.

“The whales are our relatives. A dead whale is like losing a family member, and I know I don’t like seeing pictures of dead whales. We, as Gitga’at, carry a responsibility to protect them, just as they have always sustained us. The loss of Midnight is heartbreaking, and it shows why vessel traffic must be managed with greater care in our territory,” said Councillor Cam Hill, Gitga’at First Nation.

At least three humpback whales have been struck by vessels in Gitga’at territory, over the past two years. These incidents highlight the ongoing risks posed by marine traffic to whale populations in the region. 

We call on marine operators, government, and industry to work with Indigenous Nations, scientists, and conservation groups to ensure stronger protections, slower vessel speeds, and better traffic management in whale habitats, especially with marine traffic expected to increase. Together, we have to collaboratively develop mitigation measures to reduce the impact of commercial shipping on four populations of at-risk whales in one of Canada’s most important whale areas within the Great Bear Rainforest.

“Something has to be done, especially in this stretch of water during critical times of the year when whales are abundant. BC Ferries does need to take responsibility and work with communities and whale researchers to prevent future incidents. The loss of Midnight is like losing one of our own, and as a community that respects life and death, we cannot let this go unaddressed.” – Kyle Clifton, Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department (GOLD)

Protecting these whales from threats such as vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and increasing marine traffic is critical to maintaining the balance of the ecosystem and supporting the cultural and environmental stewardship priorities of the Gitga’at Nation. We remain committed to stewarding our marine territory so that future generations human and whale alike can thrive in our traditional waters.

For more information contact:

Nicole Robinson

Community Liaison for GOLD

Gitga’at First Nations

Hartley Bay, BC

Cell: 778 884 6785

Email: nicolerobinson@gitgaat.ca