On Family Day (February 19, 2024) some unexpected visitors entered the waters of Howe Sound, causing quite a splash! Onlookers were delighted to spot all 16 members of the A5 pod of northern resident killer whales. While killer whales are the second most reported cetacean (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) to the Ocean Wise Sightings … Continued
Beatrice Sharpe (she/her) is a grade 11 student and Youth to Sea Victoria ambassador. Spending most of her life in Victoria on the coast of British Columbia (BC), she loves everything about the ocean. Which is why she believes there needs to be more voices to protect it. A passionate learner and activist, she has … Continued
Joanna Tucci is a biologist, animal lover and eco-friendly advocate who wants to share her passion for the environment with others to inspire change. She completed her BSc and MSc in Environmental Biology where she conducted research focused on the use of native plant species to improve water quality in wetlands. Currently, she works for … Continued
Ocean Wise has a team of researchers who regularly go out into the field to monitor whale health and observe their behaviour and migration patterns. Research Manager Karina Dracott writes about a unique day in the field. In Chatham Sound in Northern British Columbia on a beautiful and remarkably fog-free day back in July, the … Continued
Vancouver, BC – Hotspots of high contaminant levels were identified within Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat, according to a new study by Ocean Wise’s Pollution Tracker Program. This finding has shed light on the pressing concerns surrounding the health of at-risk killer whale populations in the northeastern Pacific. In a scientific paper published on … Continued
The Ocean Wise Pollution Tracker program recently published new findings about toxic metals (sometimes known as heavy metals) in Resident Killer Whale habitat. But what’s the deal with those metals anyway? In this blog, we explore what toxic metals are, and why they can be a problem for marine animals.
In 2022, passionate citizen scientists – interested members of the public who contribute to science – across British Columbia and Washington State reported an astounding 7,100 whale, dolphin, porpoise, and sea turtle sightings through the Ocean Wise WhaleReport App. These contributions help safeguard these marine species from harm. Among the numerous contributors, 15 standout reporters … Continued
Ocean Wise has embarked on a groundbreaking study to unravel the mysteries of winter behavior and ecology of BC’s beloved whale populations, addressing a critical knowledge gap essential for their protection and recovery. The Salish Sea plays host to year-round at-risk whale species, including the endangered southern resident killer whales, threatened northern resident killer whales, … Continued
When you think of saving whales, crunching data might not be what comes to mind. But data is a powerful tool in the fight to protect and preserve whale habitats. That’s the premise of Ocean Wise’s new report. The report compiles over 20 years of whale sightings reported by members of the public. Specifically, the … Continued
Between July 20 and July 29, there were three reported humpback whale strikes by large vessels in Northern BC waters near Prince Rupert and Kitimat. There have been additional reports of small vessel strikes in the last few weeks. A dead whale was found in Wright Sound on July 30th, though its cause of death … Continued
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Ocean Wise is based in the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xÊ·məθkwÉ™yÌ“É™m (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and SÉ™lÌ“ílwÉ™taÊ”/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We work across Turtle Island and beyond, supporting Indigenous peoples in their vital work on ocean conservation and biodiversity whenever possible or as we are invited to.