Undertaking Systematic Marine Surveys

Since 2004, Raincoast has been conducting boat-based, systematic surveys of British Columbia’s coastal waters to determine the abundance and distribution of marine mammals. This is part of our efforts to achieve long-term protection for these animals and their habitats.  Many of these animals have not been systematically counted before.

Pacific white-sided dolphins are common visitors to Achiever's bow wave on our marine surveys

Aboard our research vessel, Achiever, a team of scientists and observers work, eat and sleep on rotations for one to two months at a time. Our surveys cover the waters between Dixon Entrance (near the Alaska-BC border) and Vancouver Island and into inlets along the central and north coasts. Over 14,000 km of ocean trackline have now been surveyed (more than 800 hours spent scouring the sea).  In 2009, Raincoast will complete a major report on our surveys of marine mammals and seabirds.