Whales
As Canada's largest ocean conservation organization we help protect whales through science, citizen action, and partnerships with industry, delivering evidence-based solutions that reduce threats and support healthier ocean ecosystems.
1 in 4
Cetacean species is classified as "at risk" of extinction
20,000
Whales are struck annually by ships (estimated)
75
The number of Southern Resident Killer Whales remaining
At the Cutting Edge of Whale Protection
Whales play a vital role in maintaining a healthy and resilient ocean. As they travel, they fertilize the ecosystems they pass through, supporting the marine life within them. Their nutrient-rich waste also nourishes phytoplankton, tiny organisms that form the base of the ocean’s food chain and help absorb carbon dioxide.
Wild whales face many threats. Across Canada, over half of whale, dolphin, porpoise, and sea turtle species are at risk, a stark reminder that ocean health is declining and action is urgently needed. These animals face many human-caused threats that harm the critical life processes necessary to maintain healthy populations.
Ocean Wise is protecting these sentinels of the sea through cutting-edge technology, citizen science, and non-invasive monitoring that helps reduce threats and drive evidence-based solutions.
Our Work
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are essential to healthy marine ecosystems, and protecting them requires sustained investment in research and solutions. At Ocean Wise, I’ve seen that this investment goes beyond funding. It depends on time, commitment, and collaboration. The Ocean Wise Sightings Network shows the real impact of citizen science, where a dedicated community of observers plays a direct role in advancing whale conservation.
Dr. Chloe Robinson
Ocean Wise, Director of Whales
Help Us Protect the Sentinels of the Ocean.
Your donation supports solutions that protect whales, advance research, and reduce human impacts in our oceans. When you give, you help power real-time monitoring, community science, and action that keeps whales safer. Invest in a future where whales and marine ecosystems can thrive.
