Defining and defending marine mammal habitat
The coastal waters of British Columbia are home to over 20 species of marine mammals, including baleen and toothed whales, dolphins, porpoises sea lions, seals and sea otters. Most of these animals are long-lived and reproduce slowly, often with just one offspring at a time.
Paul Paquet, Senior Scientist
Caroline Fox, Research Scientist
Misty MacDuffee, Biologist
Adrianne Jarvela Rosenberger, Marine Biologist
BC’s whales need protected waters
Until a few decades ago, commercial whaling severely depleted many of the blue whales, fin whales, humpbacks and minkes that inhabited our waters. Today, our image of whales has changed, and the global moratorium on whaling has given many of these species an opportunity to recover. Our observations suggest that more humpbacks and fin whales are returning to BC coastal waters. Even blue whales, the world’s largest mammal hunted to near extinction, were documented in 2007 off the coast of BC.
Today, the greatest threat to marine mammals is still humans, but largely through our impacts on their habitat and food supply. In the coastal waters of British Columbia, such threats to cetaceans include:
- dwindling food supply
- underwater noise, sonar and seismic tests
- ship strikes
- entanglement in fishing nets and garbage
- oil spills from shipping and proposed tanker traffic
- toxins and pollution
Raincoast’s Work
Raincoast’s efforts to protect marine mammals include our Oil-Free Coast initiative and our efforts to stop both the Northern Gateway and Trans Mountain Expansion projects. Both projects will see a dramatic increase in tanker traffic through habitat critical to the survival of many species, including humpback, fin and resident killer whales. Raincoast is also a strong advocate of salmon for wildlife works to ensure an adequate supply of chinook salmon for resident killer whales.
The WHaLE Project
Ocean-going vessels pose a threat to large whales. In Canada, vessel strikes and underwater noise are conservation concerns for the many SARA-listed baleen whales. Using new and emerging technologies (like underwater drones), we can acquire much-needed information and contribute to efforts to reduce vessel strike risk
Marine Surveys
After travelling 14,000 km of ocean trackline during our marine surveys, abundance and distribution estimates for the marine mammals of coastal BC have been produced
Protecting Southern Resident Killer Whales
Raincoast is working to improve the living conditions and recover southern resident killer whales. This began in 2008 with a law suit filed to protect resident killer whale habitat.
Latest News
Our new whale livestream at a Southern Resident killer whale sanctuary zone
The rights of the river: could granting legal personhood for the Fraser River estuary spur its protection?
Is it time the critical habitat of endangered killer whales be expanded to include their prey base – Chinook rivers?
Raincoast welcomes new team members who have joined our team for the summer!
Purchase a new Raincoast tumbler to help protect Southern Resident killer whales
Join us on Pender Island to discuss culture, genes, conservation, and the future of Southern Resident killer whales
The not-so-silent world: monitoring underwater noise using non invasive techniques
We’re legally challenging the federal government’s approval of Roberts Bank Terminal 2
NoiseTracker: a collaborative initiative that aims to tackle the invisible threat permeating our oceans
