Online auction goes live: give for killer whales

For more than a decade, Raincoast has been championing recovery for Canada’s endangered salmon-eating killer whales. With more deaths this year than births, action is needed now more than ever. Support our work by bidding on one of two incredible adventures in the Great Bear Rainforest, lunch with two Cetacean scientists, or one of two Raincoast prize packs.

Your contribution allows us to advance initiatives for this critically endangered population of killer whales.

What our ongoing efforts look like:

• We hold governments accountable for the gaps between the actions taken and those still needed for recovery,
• Monitoring underwater noise, 
• Monitoring the suitability of salmon prey, 
• Monitoring the quality of water reaching the Salish Sea, 
• We restore habitat that will help rebuild Chinook salmon,
• We take this information to court to uphold laws designed to protect critical habitat and reduce threats.

Combining this information with the body condition of killer whales and population analysis, we identify scientifically robust actions that, if implemented, would reduce threats and improve conditions for Southern Residents, inside and outside the Salish Sea.

We are now seeking funds to further our threat reduction efforts. On the legal side, this includes our actions to stop port expansion at Roberts Bank Terminal 2, prevent MSC re-certification of the Alaskan Chinook fishery, and advance our petition for an Emergency Order. To strengthen partnerships and improve uptake of scientific advice, we will host a summit of government and non-government experts this winter to review efforts and identify a comprehensive path to recovery.

Learn more here.

We are now seeking funds to further our threat reduction efforts. With the help of a couple generous donors, we hope to achieve our goal in raising funds for these efforts.  Make your bid soon, the auction closes January 15th 2025. 

Sailing Expedition for one with Bluewater Adventures in the Great Bear Rainforest 

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime, week long trip aboard a Bluewater Adventures expedition sailing ship. This exclusive trip for one person in a shared private cabin offers the opportunity to discover the breathtaking beauty of one of the following unique BC travel experiences in 2025: 

• Haida Gwaii
• The Khutzeymateen: Valley of the Bears
• Northern Vancouver Island: Whales & Totems Voyage

Three night stay for two at Farewell Harbour Lodge in the Southern Great Bear Rainforest

Three night stay for two people in June 2025 (pending availability). This trip includes water taxi transfers between Alder Bay and Farewell Harbour Lodge, accommodation, meals, fantastic wildlife viewing excursions in the Southern Great Bear Rainforest, and other activities. 

Lunch and tour on Pender Island with two Cetacean Conservation Scientists

Embark on a unique tour of Pender Island with Lance and Valeria, Co-Directors of our Cetacean Conservation Research Program, including a visit to the Pender Whale Sanctuary Zone, home to Raincoast’s listening station and livestream. Enjoy a private lunch with Valeria and Lance so they can regale you, or the people of your choice, with stories about whales and their work. This is your chance to ask those burning questions you’ve always wondered about but were too embarrassed to ask. Gain exclusive insight into the secret life of whales while soaking in the beauty of Pender Island. 

Achiever sweater and Raincoast patch

Represent our tried and true research sailing vessel, SV Achiever, with this limited edition crew neck sweater as well as a Raincoast patch. The sweater is manufactured by Patagonia and is made of 100% regenerative organic certified cotton.

With over 18,000 nautical miles covered in the last year alone, Achiever is one of the most efficient vessels working British Columbia’s coast and offshore waters. Achiever is on the front lines of cutting edge research and engagement from the north coast to the Salish Sea.

Raincoast hat and Raincoast toque

Raincoast toques and water-resistant hats are an essential at almost any time of year on the rain coast. Curated and manufactured locally by Anian, they make a great gift for the outdoor enthusiast, even if that’s you. The toque is a midweight 60% merino, 40% recycled cashmere blend. The hat is made with a weather-resistant wax coating and is 100% cotton, one size fits all, with an adjustable strap at the back. These items have been reviewed and approved by Peter Ross, Senior Scientist and Healthy Waters Program Director, who is a stickler for microplastics.

You can help

Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.

We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.