Bigg’s Orca and Humpbacks Galore

08:47 • 3 Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? heading south in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Two adults and young Orca.

08:40 • 4 Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? heading south off of Westview in Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

08:15 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading south about 300 feet in front of the Powell River Ferry terminal, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore

06:20 • 4 Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? heading south off Sliammon north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

17:00 • Biggs Orca mid channel between Marina Island and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Reported by Chris. ▫ Leaving the Scene

16:30 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south-west off Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

12:54 • Biggs Orca ?T065s; T063 Chainsaw; T002Cs? off Viner Point on Read Island, Sutil Channel.

10:34 • 3-4 Biggs Orca ?T063 Chainsaw? at Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Very active. One big male; possibly T063 Chainsaw. Defintely more Orca in the distance.

17:40 • Biggs Orca headed toward Whaletown along Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

17:11 • Biggs Orca ?T002s? playing, off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:30 • Biggs Orca heading north by Smelt Bay, Sutil Channel. Reported by Chris. Gary on scene. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:10 • Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? heading north by Smelt Bay on Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.

13:34 • Biggs Orca south of Marina Island, Sutil Channel. Observed by Chris. ▫ On Scene

09:24 • Biggs Orca on the west side of Marina Island. Leaving Rebecca Spit now to check. ▫ Second Hand

–:– • Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? on the west side of San Juan Island, Haro Strait. ▫ Second Hand

18:03 • 10 Orca heading north mid-channel at Fearney Point, Malaspina Strait.

16:53 • 4 Orca moving quickly, heading north near Egmont, Jervis Inlet. Came close to shore past my place in Jervis Inlet. ▫ Observed from Shore

17:12 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south just approaching Cape Mudge, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:41 • 2 Humpback Whales just north of the mill in Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.

11:04 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, near the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene

10:26 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, at Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. From one of our drivers. ▫ Second Hand

09:54 • 1 Humpback Whales mid-channel facing Big Bay, Yuculta Rapids.

07:08 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north mid-channel passing Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage.

15:46 • 4 Humpback Whales at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene

15:44 • 4 Humpback Whales southwest of the buoy at Grant Reefs. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:25 • 4 Humpback Whales at Grant Reefs. ▫ Leaving the Scene

12:40 • 4 Humpback Whales off the south end of Grant Reefs. Whales about 400-m apart.

12:01 • 2 Humpback Whales approaching Harbott Point, Stuart Island. Two small whales.

10:21 • 2 Humpback Whales in Arran Rapids. Close to Bute Inlet.

10:10 • 2 Humpback Whales in the east side of Arran Rapids.

08:09 • 1 Humpback Whales heading towards the green can at Francisco Point on the south-east end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand

17:00 • 3 Humpback Whales mid channel between Marina Island and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Reported by Chris. ▫ Leaving the Scene

16:42 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north passing Mermaid Bay on Dent Island, Dent Rapids.

14:21 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, south of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.

14:13 • 2 Humpback Whales off Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Following the Orca.

13:30 • 1 Humpback Whales off Viner Point on Read Island, Sutil Channel.

10:34 • Humpback Whales at the Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand

10:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north passing Sonora Lodge on Sonora Island, Yuculta Rapids.

14:10 • 4 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south off north side of Marina Island, Sutil Channel. 300 meters off Marina Island.

12:54 • 4 Humpback Whales off the north side of Marina Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene

10:53 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, still mid channel between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Facing south but moving very little, laying on surface.

09:36 • 2 Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Marina Island, Georgia Strait. Closer to Marina Island.

17:05 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west off west side of Marina Island pointed towards Cape Mudge, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

16:12 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south close to Uganda Passage, Sutil Channel.

12:50 • 3 Humpback Whales heading east between Centre Islet , Read Island and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

12:47 • 2 Humpback Whales ?BCY0057 Niagara? between Viner Point and Hill Island, Sutil Channel. Observed by Chris. ▫ Leaving the Scene

11:48 • Humpback Whales south of Carrington Bay on Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

11:43 • 3 Humpback Whales between Rebecca Spit and Viner Point, Sutil Channel.

11:22 • 2 Humpback Whales heading toward shack on Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

11:17 • 3 Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

10:17 • 5 Humpback Whales between Read Island and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.

09:40 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north off shack on west side of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.

09:14 • 1 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. From Sharkey. Two foot waves. ▫ Second Hand

14:50 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south right out front of Discovery Harbour Marina in Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Fluked in front of the harbour. Fighting the ebb for the next 20 minutes.

12:35 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Behind Grouse Island.

12:25 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.

10:46 • 2-3 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. Two boats on site.

10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.

09:11 • Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading west by Rebecca Rocks off Powell River, Georgia Strait.

08:21 • Humpback Whales off Blubber Bay by Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.

08:16 • 2 Humpback Whales off Blubber Bay, Texada Island.

15:20 • 1 Humpback Whales mid-channel off Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

13:09 • Humpback Whales mid-channel between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.

16:52 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, near the Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.

15:50 • est. 40 PWS Dolphins heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.

15:12 • PWS Dolphins milling, foraging, and playing, in Plumper Bay, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:09 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins spread out, heading south off No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.

17:30 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south in front of Kanish Bay on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.

17:15 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south mid channel abeam Kanish Bay on Quadra Island.

11:44 • 10-15 PWS Dolphins milling, off Horn Point, Dent Rapids.

11:30 • PWS Dolphins spread out, heading south between Elk Bay and Granite Point, Discovery Passage. 7 knots.

11:30 • 6 PWS Dolphins off Johns Point, Nodales Channel.

08:36 • 50-60 PWS Dolphins by Devils Hole off Sonora Island, Dent Rapids.

15:04 • PWS Dolphins off Howe Island, Nodales Channel. Large group.

16:00 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins off Rock Point, Johnstone Strait.

14:20 • est. 75 PWS Dolphins at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.

12:37 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins spread out, heading north abeam of Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

11:51 • est. 50-75 PWS Dolphins travelling, heading south just south of Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.

11:30 • est. 10 Dalls Porpoise playing, off Little Dent Island, Dent Rapids. In two groups.

10:36 • Dalls Porpoise off Horn Point, Dent Rapids.

11:30 • 2 Harbour Porpoise taking long dives, heading south mid-channel off of Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

REGIONAL

The report makes three recommendations, including that all commercial passenger vessels operating beyond sheltered waters carry emergency radio beacons that activate automatically to transmit a boat’s position.
The board also recommends that passenger vessels across Canada adopt risk-management processes that identify hazards, such as areas known to have large, breaking waves.

San Juan County officials are brainstorming local ways to protect Southern resident killer whales.

Suggestions at the June 6 council meeting ranged from more enforcement of current state boating regulations to a 10-year moratorium on catching chinook salmon in the county.

The county plan, said Smith, could include local alternatives generated from the recently proposed whale protection zone to the fisheries department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

If the NOAA petition passes, commercial and private whale watching boats would be prohibited from entering the entire length of the west side of San Juan Island, where orcas often feed.

Members of three environmental organizations petitioned for the protection zone because boat noise hinders orcas’ ability to locate food, which they do by omitting noise and listening to the length of returned vibrations.

Possible measures included having the county:
•?Enforce a 10-year moratorium on catching chinook salmon in San Juan County, though the county prosecuting attorney told the Journal fishing regulations are determined by the state and not the county.
•?Implement a low-speed zone in Haro Strait for all vessels, including private and commercial.
•?Fund local chinook salmon hatcheries to increase production.
•?Prohibit building waterfront walls on soft beaches to protect chinook’s food source of forage fish, even if the beaches don’t include forage fish today. Sometimes rock or concrete walls are built on beaches to prevent erosion.
•?Stop introducing invasive species, such as Atlantic salmon, which feed on the same forage fish as chinook.
•?Prevent the destruction of eelgrass to protect forage fish.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is seeking proposals for grants for orca protection.
The Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program was launched in 2015 with support from SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. to study and protect orcas in the wild.
This year, Shell Oil Co. supported the program with $250,000.
Proposals are due July 14. The full request for proposals can be found at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-orcagrants. Awards are anticipated by December.
Most of the grants will be for projects that focus on the habitats used by southern resident orcas, the foundation said.
The Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program focuses on three strategies: increasing prey availability, improving habitat quality and strengthening management through research.
In the first two years, the program has awarded nine grants totaling more than $1 million, which leveraged more than $1.4 million in matching support from grantees….

WEST COAST

In the Bering Sea, near the edge the continental shelf, fishermen are trying to escape a predator that seems to outwit them at every turn, stripping their fishing lines and lurking behind their vessels.

The predators are pods of killer whales chasing down the halibut and black cod caught by longline fishermen. Fishermen say the whales are becoming a common sight – and problem – in recent years, as they’ve gone from an occasional pest to apparently targeting the fishermen’s lines.

Killer whales targeting fishing vessels happens all over Alaska, including in the western Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. But it’s more common on the Bering Sea’s continental shelf, where a higher density of whales overlaps with halibut and black cod fishing grounds.

Studies show that at least 1,475 killer whales use Western Alaska waters.

Japanese fishermen first encountered thieving orcas …

IN JULY OF 1844, A pod of bottlenose dolphins showed up in the Potomac River. Surprised, a group of men grabbed their guns and hopped into some boats. They followed the dolphins past the future home of Arlington National Cemetery, past John Tyler’s White House, and all the way upriver to Aqueduct Bridge, at which point they finally let them be.

Fast forward to 2017. The White House has a new occupant, but there are still dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.

Ongoing research by the Potomac-Cheseapeake Dolphin Project-the first of its kind, headed up by the bottlenose expert Janet Mann of Georgetown University-has counted around 500, and the numbers keep climbing. They’ve even named one of them after John Tyler.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

An underwater photographer found himself amidst a rare and enormous gathering of sperm whales; his photos are out of this world.

Tony Wu is a naturalist and photographer who has been using his gifts for decades to encourage people to appreciate and protect the beauty of the oceans. Last year he was out at sea in a small boat looking for whales when lo and behold, he saw not one, but many. As he recounts for the wonderful website, bioGraphic …

A trapped beluga whale that swam into the Nepisiguit River by mistake two weeks ago was rescued Thursday and flown from Bathurst, N.B., to Quebec.
Scientists who ran the 2½-hour rescue mission said the whale will join an adoptive pod in the St. Lawrence River.
The mammal wouldn’t have got out of the river on its own, the experts said.
They hope the rescue will improve the whale’s chance of survival after its stay in the northern New Brunswick river.
The rescue mission got underway early

For more details:
• Full Length Video

A mass bleaching of coral reefs worldwide is finally easing after three years, U.S. scientists announced Monday.

About three-quarters of the world’s delicate coral reefs were damaged or killed by hot water in what scientists say was the largest coral catastrophe.
The forecast damage doesn’t look widespread in the Indian Ocean, so the event loses its global scope. Bleaching will still be bad in the Caribbean and Pacific, but it’ll be less severe than recent years, said NOAA coral reef watch co-ordinator C. Mark Eakin.
Places like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, northwest Hawaii, Guam and parts of the Caribbean have been hit with back-to-back-to-back destruction, Eakin said.
University of Victoria, British Columbia, coral reef scientist Julia Baum plans to travel to Christmas Island in the Pacific where the coral reefs have looked like ghost towns in recent years. …