The large refers to the high number of Humpback whales that are remaining in Sutil Channel between Read Island, Cortes Island, and Quadra Island. Many Humpbacks have been identified, with the whale "Niagara" (BCY0057) being observed most often. Of course, the Humpbacks themselves are large in size being as long as a bus. Pods of Pacific White-Sided dolphins were observed in their usual areas in Nodales Channel and Johnstone Strait. A few of these pods were large in size, with some of them estimated to be about 200 animals. It must be exciting to see all those dolphins out in the water! We have received a few sighting reports of the Northern Resident Orca in Blackfish Sound and Transient Orca near Powell River and Campbell River. Adult male Orca can be large growing up to 7-meters in length and are a sight to see, with their 2-meter dorsal fin coming out of the water as the whale surfaces.
Only a couple of sighting reports of Harbour porpoise and of Dall's porpoise came in this week. These species are the smallest members of the Cetacean family. Because of their size, they can be difficult to spot especially if they are in small pods. Sea Otters were also observed a few times this week, with one being close to Marina Reef regularly. Sea Otters can grow to be about 1-meter long with a mass of about 45-kg (100 pounds). Although relatively small compared to whales and dolphins, Sea Otters do spend a lot of time at the surface and can be seen easily. They were hunted for their fur in the 1800's and they were close to extinction at one time. After they were protected (and still is protected under Laws today), the population of Sea Otters have increased slowly over the past century and the population appears to have returned to a healthy size.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Only a couple of sighting reports of Harbour porpoise and of Dall's porpoise came in this week. These species are the smallest members of the Cetacean family. Because of their size, they can be difficult to spot especially if they are in small pods. Sea Otters were also observed a few times this week, with one being close to Marina Reef regularly. Sea Otters can grow to be about 1-meter long with a mass of about 45-kg (100 pounds). Although relatively small compared to whales and dolphins, Sea Otters do spend a lot of time at the surface and can be seen easily. They were hunted for their fur in the 1800's and they were close to extinction at one time. After they were protected (and still is protected under Laws today), the population of Sea Otters have increased slowly over the past century and the population appears to have returned to a healthy size.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Two Humpback Whale fluking in front of Marina Island
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Society News & Events
Real Time Monitoring Station Update: We're LIVE!
Connect to our first installation mounted at Beach Gardens Marina click on our YouTube Channel Live Link. Please bear with us as we work on the transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images. Even with the bouncy images, we still managed to have a couple of whale sightings. The hydrophone (underwater listening) installation will follow.
Thank You to all our hardworking volunteers and contributors!
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Sightings Update
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-034
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Sep 13 2017
17:34 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading north off the harbour at Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster
16:55 • 4-5 Biggs Orca spy hopping, heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. Moving slowly.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC
Mon Sep 11 2017
18:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ hunting, in Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
17:29 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ in Menzies Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:27 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north off Race Point, Discovery Passage.
Ed Sharkey, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
15:32 • Biggs Orca heading north by Copper Cliffs, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
15:22 • 2-3 Biggs Orca by Hernando Island, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:17 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south mid channel off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:27 • Biggs Orca heading south off Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Sat Sep 02 2017
11:30 • Biggs Orca heading south a couple miles off of Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Fri Sep 15 2017
13:48 • 20 NRKW Orca ◦B13 Yuculta◦ near Stubbs Island, Blackfish Sound. B13 and friends are back!.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Sep 14 2017
13:20 • 10-15 NRKW Orca spread out, heading east off Bold Head, Swanson Island, Blackfish Sound.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed Sep 13 2017
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri Sep 15 2017
18:06 • 2 Humpback Whales off the shack on Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
17:50 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
17:50 • 2 Humpback Whales off the south end of Hill Island heading towards Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
16:05 • Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Apollo; BCZ0338 Geometry◦ resting, off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Noses pointing northward. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:58 • 1 Humpback Whales between Grant Reefs and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. The whale is small.
15:42 • 2 Humpback Whales between Grant Reefs and Savary Island.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:36 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south-west from Francisco Point to Wilby Shoals, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:35 • 5 Humpback Whales doing circles, 3 miles SE of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:44 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, between Center Islet and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Josh Grin, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:33 • 1 Humpback Whales near Comox, Georgia Strait. The whale may have been hit by a boat. Information from a boater. ▫ Second Hand
Office 3, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:27 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north about half-mile south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:45 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick; BCZ0004 Stripe; BCY0057 Niagara◦ between Hoskyn Rock and Viner Point, Sutil Channel. Nick and Stripe by Hoskyn Rock and Niagara was headed towards Viner Point.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
13:04 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hornby Island and the mine on Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0057 Niagara◦ heading north-east from Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:37 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, between Francisco Point and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
12:22 • 2 Humpback Whales by Read Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
11:11 • 3 Humpback Whales between Quadra Island Scallop Farm and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
11:11 • 2 Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:01 • Humpback Whales resting, close to the shore by Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. The whales were previously heading north but turned and were off Willingdon Beach.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
09:38 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:32 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north by Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
09:31 • Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:12 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Marina Island, Sutil Channel. A small whale.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:06 • 1 Humpback Whales off Spilsbury Point, Hernando Island, Baker Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
08:30 • est. 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north-west off the mid-island section of Lasqueti Island across from Qualicum Beach, Georgia Strait. Remained off Lasqueti in the same area for about 30 minutes surfacing regularly with large visible tail fins. ▫ Observed from Shore
Gina Bell, Qualicum Beach, BC
Thu Sep 14 2017
18:07 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:49 • 2 Humpback Whales along ferry route between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:39 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Viner Point, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:08 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Dogfish Bay towards Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:09 • 2 Humpback Whales between Savary Island and Hernando Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:17 • 4 Humpback Whales zig zagging, heading south between Viner Point and Quadra Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel.
12:36 • 2-3 Humpback Whales at the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
12:36 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0057 Niagara◦ near Center Islet north-west of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
11:51 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0057 Niagara; BCZ0339 Inukshuk◦ heading south by Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
11:31 • 2 Humpback Whales between Savary Island and Hernando Island, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:07 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south by Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait. Small whale.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:57 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, near Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:54 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east by marker at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:53 • 2 Humpback Whales west of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Information from sailboat. ▫ Second Hand
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales by Viner Point, Sutil Channel. Small whale.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
10:18 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:13 • 2 Humpback Whales off Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. The whales were navigating through Penn Islands and then headed south towards Carrington Bay, Cortes Island.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed Sep 13 2017
18:05 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north about half mile south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
17:19 • 6 Humpback Whales doing circles, 3-miles SE of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. The whales were In two groups of threes.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:39 • 3 Humpback Whales doing big circles, off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:29 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. Lots of dives. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:09 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south in front of marina at Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:03 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick; BCZ0004 Stripe◦ by Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. They were observed for about 30 minutes. Last seen angling towards Cortes Island from Viner Point.
12:31 • 3 Humpback Whales in Plunger Passage and were angling towards Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. They changed direction and headed towards Whaletown. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
10:13 • 2 Humpback Whales east of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
10:08 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
08:55 • 1 Humpback Whales off the NW corner of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
08:55 • 2 Humpback Whales at the south end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Ed Sharkey, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Tue Sep 12 2017
13:43 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just south of Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:14 • Humpback Whales heading south off Junction Point, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel. Travelling at about 4 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:15 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, near Teakerne Arm in Lewis Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:12 • 3 Humpback Whales doing circles, south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
09:17 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Center Islet, Sutil Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:00 • Humpback Whales off Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River, BC
Mon Sep 11 2017
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales off Hoskyn Rock aiming for Read Point, Hoskyn Channel. Close to shore.
13:10 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Hill Island aiming for South Burdwood Bay, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:51 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ0338 Geometry◦ off Bold Point, Hoskyn Channel. Geometry and friend.
Josh Grin, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:12 • 2 Humpback Whales at the south end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:45 • 2 Humpback Whales off Stephenson Point, Discovery Passage.
Ian Perry, Cetus Society - StraitWatch
10:20 • 2 Humpback Whales now at Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
10:02 • Humpback Whales heading north at Steep Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
08:22 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north in front of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whale fluking in front of Marina Island
Mon, 11 Sep 2017 - 1 items
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whale fluking in front of Marina Island
Mon, 11 Sep 2017 - 1 items
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Sep 10 2017
15:25 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales milling, mid channel between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Approximately 1-km south of the ferry, viewed from the 3:05 crossing to Cortes. ▫ From Ferry
15:15 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading east 1-km east of Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Single Humpback, possibly juvenile (seemed smallish), surfaced right beside the ferry on the 3:05 pm crossing from Quadra to Cortes. ▫ From Ferry
Graham Blake, Cortes Island, BC
Wed Sep 06 2017
07:09 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north close to shore near Atrevida Reef just north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. The tide was in and the whale was not very far out. Amazing!.
Pauline Decloedp, Powell River, BC
Mon Sep 04 2017
15:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Major Rock Islet and Baker Passage, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
07:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by Myrtle Rocks and observed till they reached Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sun Sep 03 2017
09:38 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG
06:15 • 5-6 Humpback Whales bubble netting, coming into Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Came in as far as the rock by my anchorage, then worked the shoreline bubble feeding, then headed back out by the north side fish farm at 8am.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Sat Sep 02 2017
15:00 • 3 Humpback Whales off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
11:30 • 3 Humpback Whales heading west at the north end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south by Little Bear Bay, Johnstone Strait.
10:55 • 3 Humpback Whales by Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
08:40 • 1 Humpback Whales south of Rendezvous Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales off Klahanie in Powell River
Fri, 1 Sep 2017 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales off Klahanie in Powell River
Fri, 1 Sep 2017 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Sep 15 2017
16:14 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, off Ripple Shoal, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:53 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins off Ripple Shoal.
Thu Sep 14 2017
17:30 • est. 50-60 PWS Dolphins off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:47 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins doing circles, in Little Bear Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:30 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading east off Howe Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:18 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins off Chatham Point heading into Nodales Channel.
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:40 • PWS Dolphins foraging, near Cinque Islands, Okisollo Channel. 4-5 groups of dolphins in the area.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
10:55 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south close to Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:20 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south just north of Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:45 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins off Bear Point, Johnstone Strait. Information from water taxi. ▫ Second Hand
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed Sep 13 2017
15:47 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading east at Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:01 • 12 PWS Dolphins off Howe Island, Nodales Channel.
14:50 • 4 PWS Dolphins off Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:30 • PWS Dolphins heading west off Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Tue Sep 12 2017
10:15 • 25 PWS Dolphins doing circles, in Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.
Ed Sharkey, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:20 • 10 PWS Dolphins off Granite Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Sep 03 2017
15:45 • PWS Dolphins by Sonora Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Small group.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Sep 02 2017
11:00 • PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
Radio, overheard or call out
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
DALLS PORPOISE
Fri Sep 15 2017
09:46 • est. 6 Dalls Porpoise by Elk Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Sep 13 2017
11:43 • Dalls Porpoise off Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait. Large group.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Fri Sep 15 2017
16:19 • Harbour Porpoise foraging, between the Quadra Island Scallop Farm and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Thu Sep 14 2017
16:04 • 1 Harbour Porpoise foraging, south of Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Fri Sep 15 2017
17:51 • Other Species between Marina Reef and the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:59 • Other Species between Wilby Shoals and Cortes Island, Georgia Strait. A Sea Otter was observed. Angling towards Mitlenatch. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:09 • Other Species at the red can at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Thu Sep 14 2017
Mon Sep 11 2017
12:01 • Other Species at Davis Point, Nodales Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
The Magazine
REGIONAL
Georgia Straight Alliance
Southern resident orcas are one of the most highly studied whale populations in the world. Every individual has a name and is photographed for an annual census that has been conducted for over 40 years by the Centre for Whale Research. We know their family trees, when they were born, who they favour spending time with, and even their individual personality traits. What we don’t know is where they are.
Research on the southern residents began in 1976 when...
Peninsula Daily News, WA
Forest-dwelling fishers and five whales species maintained endangered species status at a meeting in Port Angeles last week.
The state Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 6-0 Friday to retain state-specific protections for the blue whale, fin whale, sei whale, North Pacific right whale, sperm whale and fishers during a five-year review at the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel....
Factors affecting whale populations include an overharvest during the whaling era, ship strikes, entanglements with fishing gear, disturbances from sound, effects of climate change on the food supply and oil spills and other contaminants, Anderson said.
State officials received 11 written comments on the re-listing of the five whale species, eight of which were supportive of the action.
Two called for an end to all commercial fishing, and one opposed the re-listing of the blue whale on the basis that its population had recovered.
CHEK News, BC
Mark Malleson, lead skipper with the Prince of Whales Whale Watching Tours, says he has seen a record number of transient killer whales this season.
"It has been amazing," explained Malleson. "Best year that I've seen so far."
There is another species of orcas, called Southern Resident killer whales, whose recent migration patterns has Malleson and others concerned.
"We've seen a lot of animals that have shown up quite lean and skinny" Malleson said.
The resident killer whales are most active off the waters of Vancouver Island and Washington State.
Since April of this year, the three orca pods have been sighted only 27 times according to the Center for Whale Research.
This summer turned out to have the lowest number of sightings since studies on the population began in 1976.
"This population is on the razor edge of extinction," explained Christianne Wilhelmson of the Georgia Strait Alliance. "There's no other way to put it."
Last year marked the deadliest year for the species in more than two decades.
Six resident whales died, including one of the oldest whales in the world who was affectionately known as "Granny."...
WEST COAST
National Post, ON
The California fishermen are part of a new effort using their cellphones’ GPS and new software pinpointing areas where lost or abandoned crabbing gear has been spotted. They retrieve the gear for a payment — at Half Moon Bay, it’s $65 per pot –before the fishing ropes can snag a whale.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
CBC News, NS
Scientists are at a loss to explain one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale — why the animals are disappearing from their usual breeding grounds off the southeastern United States.
Usually, right whales spend the winter in their breeding grounds off Florida and Georgia.
Before 2011, more than 200 right whales were spotted in the area each year. In 2017, there were just seven.
"How tough can it be to find 200 whales? Apparently pretty tough," said Jim Hain, senior scientist at Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, located near Falmouth, Mass.
It's just one of the many puzzles these leviathans present to researcher...
CBC News, PEI
A cruise industry group says it is working with government agencies to reduce speed restrictions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Donna Spalding, director of administration for Cruise Lines International Association for the northwest and Canada, said a number of alternatives are being explored....
MacLeans, ON
The last thing Joe Howlett ever did, standing on a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada fast-boat bobbing in waters 20 kms off Shippagan, N.B., was give a smiling thumbs up to the five DFO officers with him just as he saved a whale’s life.
It was July 10. Howlett, a jovial 59-year-old had just used a long pole with a curved-back blade on the end to cut off the last line of tangled fishing gear likely to drag a massive and tiring North Atlantic right whale to its death.
Only an estimated 525 right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are known to exist and the species, which can grow up to 18 metres in length and weigh 70,000 kilograms, is listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act. To date, in what’s been called an extreme mortality event off North America’s Atlantic coast, the corpses of 13 right whales have been found this year; they’ve been killed by entanglements, ship strikes and other undetermined causes. Every additional dead right whale is a significant blow to the species’ future survival.
Big Think
For us humans, the aurora borealis is a phenomenon of wonder: undulating swaths of green and red above the northern horizon, produced by charged particles and radiation from solar flares hitting our upper atmosphere, drawn magnetically to our northern and southern poles (for the aurora australis). After recent reports of three massive solar flares heading toward earth, many of us in the Northern Hemisphere hit the road late at night, hoping to be fortunate enough to experience the phantasm-like rippling ribbons of light. For other animals, though, the northern lights may mean something entirely different: What produces them may be what’s causing whales to fatally beach themselves on ocean shores....
Star Tribune, MN
A Hawaii tour operator has been fined for repeatedly dropping swimmers in front of dolphins and encircling the animals with his tour boat, officials said.
It's the first such fine against an operator of spinner dolphin tours, Ann Garrett, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official in Hawaii, said this week.
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrative law judge found Casey Phillips Cho's actions on Oct. 23, 2014, amounted to harassment of dolphins. She fined Cho and his Big Island company $2,500 in line with NOAA penalty guidelines.
Cho's attorney, Brian DeLima, said his client disagreed with the findings. But he said Cho paid the fine rather than appeal as a business decision....
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