Researching & Protecting Whales
We are devoted to protecting all whales & the environments essential to their survival
Over the past two decades, we have worked to learn all that we can about the lives and needs of whales through dedicated research projects, coast-wide initiatives, and long-term partnerships.
The more we understand about whales, the better we can advocate for positive measures of protection that are rooted in science. Here we unite research, conservation efforts, and public education.
Research
From hydrophones and drone technology to coastal marine and land based surveys, BC Whales conducts comprehensive research and studies the nutritional, acoustic, and social needs of whales. We are grateful for the support of our research partners.
Connect
Our work began over two decades ago with two people, a boat, and the philosophy of immersing to learn. We live among whales in remote regions of the BC coast to understand their unique needs, behaviours, and acoustic traditions.
Protect
Join us in our mission to preserve the natural habitats of our ocean’s most magnificent creatures. Together, we hope to build a future where whales thrive in a healthy and balanced marine environment, ensuring their presence in BC waters for generations to come.
Research Projects & Collaborations
BC Whales conducts research using non-invasive approaches including acoustic monitoring, drones, land-based and coastal marine surveys. Our research spans the entire BC coast from the Great Bear Rainforest to the Salish Sea.
Scientific Papers, Blogs & Media
Quantifying vessel noise and acoustic habitat loss in marine soundscapes
Newsletter – Winter 2025
For What’s to Come
Arriving with Whales
Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone: A minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics
Announcing Whale Sound
Family Ties
The BC Whales field team hear the A-clan resident orca family in Squally Channel and head to find them.
Ship-Strike Forecast and Mitigation for Whales in Gitga’at First Nation Territory
As marine traffic increases globally, ship strikes have emerged as a primary threat to many baleen whale populations.
To Wake a Sleeping Whale
In Lewis Passage, the BC Whales team discover a sleeping humpback whale in the path of a large cruise ship.
