Understanding Responsible Whale Watching - Responsible Whale Watching Practices
Strict mammal observation guidelines have been created, respected and adhered-to by the whale watching industry: Other whale watching operators worldwide have adapted variations of this model, from which similar whale-friendly observation guidelines have been implemented.
Cooperation between researchers and the whale watching companies has contributed to the successful creation of a mutual and pro-active conservation and rescue effort. On any given day, members of the U.S. based Soundwatch Program and the Canadian Marine Mammal Monitoring (M-3) effort provide information to all boaters with respect to conduct and the effects of vessel traffic in the presence of whales. Leaflets and informational materials related to whale activities and behaviours are handed out to those who may inadvertently have encountered whales in their movement through coastal waters.
This kind of scientific, knowledge-based 're-education' has turned the tide of public misunderstanding into humane consideration and protection of whales from the possibility of critical population decimation, mainly through both prohibition of live capture and close approach by vessels. Rivers and estuaries are being reclaimed, toxic sites are being removed from waterways, and researchers have new evidence that whales have freely returned to former commercial capture areas they intentionally, and consciously, had avoided during the last three decades.
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Recent Sightings
February 22. 2010: I wasn't out yesterday but I understand many resident orcas were around!!! Jpod was going North through Active Pass with a few Kpod members and Lpod was travelling South from Sidney! Good news to all you whale watching fans... L77 has a new calf born in Feb; check out orcanetwork.org for a few photographs! We're still planning daily 1pm departures so give us a call and we'll get you out there...
February 3. 2010: We listened to crazy vocals on the hydrophone for an hour while having coffee this morning, hoping for an encounter on our late morning trip! It was a successful encounter with many transient killer whales; they were just south of Race Rocks and they were active. Lots of spyhops, zigzagging back and forth, calves and very large dorsal fins... it was great to be on the water!
December 5. 2009: We haven't been out much lately but we're still operating. The whales are still being sighted and Race Rocks is busy with steller and California sea lions. Due to weather and with it being the slow time of year, we don't get out every day but call us and check in if you're interested as we're always around!
Current Weather
Contact Us
Call us toll free (from anywhere in North America):
1-877-733-6722
Or locally and long distance:
250-386-2277