After a very successful morning, we headed back out across the Strait to try and pick up the Orca we saw earlier in the morning. We are always fortunate when we see the same group twice in one day, especially when that group has a bouncing little baby! We had a bit of a trip, heading all the way across the strait to Vancouver to catch up with our little group. Today’s Orca include:

T086A3 Tyndall ♀ (2011)
T086A3A (2024)

T124A2 Elkugu ♀ (2001)
T124A2A Agafia ♂ (2013)
T124A2B Litton ♀ (2016)

These two small pods were travelling together, apparently cruising towards Vancouver Harbour. We always get a little nervous when we see the whales heading into busy waters, and will do our part to try and keep them safe. When there is a high volume of boats around, there’s always an increased risk of boat strikes. We do our part while on scene by putting up our “Whale Warning” flag, to alert surrounding boats of the animals that are nearby. Additionally, all our Naturalists complete whale reports on the whale report app while on scene. This information is shared with larger vessels, such as BC ferries, which helps keep our finned friends safe from excess traffic when we know they are around!

Being a boater in our waters requires constant vigilance, including scanning for blows and dorsals when travelling. Being aware of current regulations surrounding wildlife is important for recreational boaters, both to keep the animals safe and to avoid fines. While we are able to get within 200m of Orca, we are only able to do so because we have an authorized vessel permit that allows us to get closer to the animals. This is because we can tell the difference between the endangered Southern Residents and the Transients. The general public, however, must stay 400m away from orcas here in the Salish Sea. This includes pleasure crafts and other private vessels, but also includes non-motorized vessels such as kayaks and paddle boards, which are less commonly known. It is illegal to swim or touch marine mammals here in Canada, and the penalties are severe; People caught breaking the laws can be fined up to $100,000! While Canadian regulations will stay consistent for the foreseeable future, our friends down in the US have some changes coming. Starting January 1st, 2025, viewing restrictions for the endangered Southen Residents will be increased to 1000m from previous distances of 400m. This increased distance is intended to reduce the impact of boat traffic and noise on such a vulnerable population. Read more about regulations both in Canada and the US here on BeWhaleWise!

After spending some time with the Orca, we headed back out to the strait to see if we could make it a double species day. While the open boat didn’t manage to find any humpbacks on the way home, the semi-covered vessel was a bit behind them and managed to spot some blows! We came across several humpbacks hanging out south of Gibsons. We found Coyote (MMX0392), Malachite (BCX1210 calf 2021), Graphite (BCX2077), and Prowler (BCX1660). These guys gave us some lovely flukes while we were with them, and were super easy for our Naturalist to ID! Regulations for watching humpbacks are a bit different than the orca, and boats are able to get within 100m, unless the animal is resting or with a calf, and then it is 200m. Often we get asked about bringing drones on our tours as well. While drones are incredible for research purposes, recreational drones must stay 1000 ft above marine animals to reduce their impact.

After hanging out with the whales for the day, we finished the tour by checking out the Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions at Stinky rocks. We’re right in the middle of pupping season with the Harbour seals, so we’ve been very lucky to see lots of tiny pups recently. Such a nice way to finish a tour!

Photos taken by Marine Naturalists Cheyenne Brewster and Aly Kohlman.

July 22, 2024, 3:30 pm - Orca in Vancouver with a side of Humpbacks

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