We are devoted to protecting all whales & the environments essential to their survival.

For over 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.

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Our Team

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Research Projects & Collaborations

BC Whales conducts collaborative non-invasive research spanning the entire coast of British Columbia from the Great Bear Rainforest to the Salish Sea. Learn more about our acoustic monitoring, land-based, and coastal marine surveys research below.

Support Our Work

Your generous donation directly support our research and conservation efforts.

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Media & Publications

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Scientific Publication
Published On: September 3, 2021
Fin whales of the Great Bear Rainforest: Balaenoptera physalus velifera in a Canadian Pacific fjord system
Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are widely considered an offshore and oceanic species, but certain populations also use coastal areas and semi-enclosed seas. Based upon fifteen years of study, we report that Canadian Pacific fin whales (B. p. velifera) have returned to the Kitimat Fjord System (KFS) in the Great Bear Rainforest, and have established a seasonally resident population in its intracoastal waters.
Eric M Keen
Scientific Publication
Published On: August 5, 2021
CatRlog: A Photo-Identification Project Management System Based in R
Photo-identification (photo-ID) databases can comprise versatile troves of information for well-studied animal populations and, when organized well and curated carefully, can be readily applied to a wide range of research questions, such as population abundance estimates, meta-population connectivity and social network structure.
Eric M Keen
Scientific Publication
Published On: June 23, 2021
Social Survival: Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use Social Structure to Partition Ecological Niches Within Proposed Critical Habitat
Animal culture and social bonds are relevant to wildlife conservation because they influence patterns of geography, behavior, and strategies of survival.Numerous examples of socially-driven habitat partitioning and ecological-niche specialization can be found among vertebrates, including toothed whales.
Janie Wray