Humpback whale injured by apparent vessel collision in Glacier Bay National Park

Officials seeking information on how and where collision occurred between June 16-27

Photographs of injured humpback whale #2583 on June 16, 2025, prior to being injured, and on June 27, 2025, with a deep gash behind the dorsal fin. (National Park Service photos by Janet Neilson, taken under the authority of Scientific Research Permit #27027 issued by NOAA Fisheries)

A humpback whale was severely injured by an apparent collision with a vessel sometime during the latter half of June in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, officials announced Tuesday.

Park officials, in a press release, stated they are seeking the public’s help in determining how and where the collision occurred.

The whale identified as #2583, an adult of unknown sex that has been sighted in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait since 2013, was spotted near Willoughby Island on June 27 of this year by biologist Janet Neilson, according to the release. Neilson observed "a deep gash behind its dorsal fin that appears to be an injury from contact with a vessel propeller."

"The wound appeared to be very fresh, perhaps just hours old," the release states. "The gash is about 1 foot deep, exposing the blubber beneath the skin, although it was not bleeding. From the size of the cut, it is believed that the whale was struck by a medium to large vessel. Neilson reported that the whale was diving and appeared to be behaving normally."

Park biologists are consulting with marine mammal experts to understand the whale’s likelihood of survival with such a severe injury, according to the release.

The park’s humpback whale population monitoring program shows the same whale was sighted nearby and in good health on June 16, indicating that it had been in the area for at least several days before the collision occurred.

"This is not the first vessel strike this year; last week, Park biologist Chris Gabriele documented adult female #1019 with a new shallow propeller wound behind her dorsal fin near Pleasant Island in Icy Strait," the release notes.

Also, park officials stated there were several whale-vessel collisions last year in Icy Strait and Cross Sound, including two that resulted in the death of a whale.

Joni Seay, the park’s acting superintendent, announced Friday that vessel speed limits of 13 knots were being enacted as of Saturday, June 28, in the lower West Arm and Whidbey Passage to protect 25 or more humpback whales that have been feeding in this area. There was no mention at the time of the injured whale.

The lower speed limit was also implemented in the Lower Bay Whale Waters due to increasing numbers of humpback whales.

A map shows areas where speed restrictions are in place in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (National Park Service map)

"In addition, vessels in all Park waters are prohibited from approaching within ¼ nautical mile of a humpback whale, and if they find themselves closer, they must decrease speed to 10 knots or less," the press release issued Tuesday notes. "In the lower bay, where whales predominantly feed near shore, most vessels are prohibited from operating within one mile of shore."

Anyone with information about the injured whale is asked to call park officials at (907) 697-2230.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.