Janine McNeilly
Research Scientist
Janine is a biologist with Raincoast’s Cetacean Research Program, where her work focuses on understanding the effectiveness of Vessel Restricted Zones (VRZs) for Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) and other at-risk cetaceans. She integrates visual sightings with acoustic data to evaluate how VRZs influence SRKW presence and behaviour, and whether additional management measures may be needed.
Janine holds a Master of Science in Ecological Restoration from Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. As part of her thesis, she developed a bioenergetics model to assess the energetic feasibility of sablefish as an alternative prey source for SRKW.
Since completing her graduate degree, Janine has spent the last two summers monitoring the Pender and Saturna VRZs as part of a collaborative study with Raincoast, the Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society, and Simon Fraser University. In her free time, you can usually find her exploring the coastlines, equally excited by the prospect of spotting a killer whale or a kingfisher.
