A day in the life as a biologist monitoring the Vessel Restricted Zone from Pender Island
Hiking, reporting criminals, the usual.
Raincoast is sharing a behind-the-scenes look at our study of endangered Southern Resident killer whales.
Every day, biologist and researcher Janine McNeilly, hikes to a viewpoint overlooking the Pender Vessel Restricted Zone (VRZ) to document any whales or vessels that enter our survey area.
The VRZ was created to provide the Southern Residents with an area of refuge as they travel through the Salish Sea. We’re measuring how often these whales use the zone and assessing whether boaters are complying with the restrictions designed to protect the 74 Southern Resident killer whales that are left.
Watch to join a day on the bluff as Janine searches for whales, monitors vessel activity, and collects the data that helps inform the management and conservation of this endangered population.
