On May 4, 2026, a grey whale was struck by a high-speed jet ski near Kitsilano in Vancouver.
This incident highlights an urgent gap in protecting marine wildlife in shared coastal waters of British Columbia.
We are calling for stronger safety measures to prevent future collisions between personal watercraft and whales.

 
On May 4, 2026, a whale was struck by a high-speed personal watercraft (jet ski) near Kitsilano in Vancouver, as reported by The Canadian Press on May 5, 2026.

Witnesses described the whale surfacing and spouting before a jet ski travelling at high speed collided with it. Video footage reportedly shows the vessel launching into the air upon impact, and the rider being thrown off. The incident occurred in front of multiple observers along the shoreline.

 
This event has raised serious concerns about marine wildlife safety in the coastal waters of British Columbia.

The coastal waters of British Columbia, including the broader Salish Sea and areas around Vancouver Island, are part of an interconnected marine ecosystem used by whales such as the Grey Whale during seasonal migration.

 
Under Canadian regulations, vessels are required to maintain a minimum distance of at least 100 metres from whales in most cases, with additional protections depending on the species. However, this incident highlights how difficult it can be to maintain these distances in practice in high-speed recreational environments.

Personal watercraft (commonly known as jet skis) are capable of rapid acceleration and high speeds and are often operated close to shore. In real-world conditions, whales can surface unexpectedly, and at high speeds there is limited time and visibility for operators to react. This creates a situation where compliance with guidelines alone may not be sufficient to reliably prevent collisions.

 
This is not a call to restrict responsible recreation, but rather to improve safety measures in shared coastal waters where marine wildlife is present.

 
We respectfully call on:

• Vancouver City Council
• Transport Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada

to review and strengthen protections for marine wildlife in high-use coastal areas.

 
We encourage consideration of the following measures:

Designated low-speed or restricted zones for personal watercraft in ecologically sensitive coastal waters
Stronger enforcement of minimum distance regulations between vessels and whales
Increased monitoring in high-traffic recreational areas such as Kitsilano
Public awareness campaigns on responsible marine recreation and whale safety
 
British Columbia’s coastal waters are internationally recognized for their ecological importance and biodiversity. Strengthening protective measures can help ensure that marine wildlife and human activity coexist more safely.

We must act proactively to reduce preventable harm and preserve these ecosystems for the future.