Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale Baby Expected Soon

Transient Bigg’s Orca known as T087 who had been cruising the straits alone has joined up with a couple of other pods in which there is one female with an extremely large belly. We expect that there will be another new calf to report very soon. There have been a few other reports of Orca, but no confirmation if they were of the Bigg’s or Resident variety. Humpback Whales seem to be holding closer to the Vancouver Island side of Georgia Strait, and Pacific White Sided Dolphins appear to be transitting in smaller groups. We are pleased to have reports of the shy Harbour Porpoise again. Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society

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09:00 • 8-9 Bigg`s Orca heading South off the Viewpoint in Powell River then down past Myrte Rocks in Malaspina Strait. ?T87 and T055s? Started at the Viewpoint and went all the way to below Myrtle Rocks taking photos from shore. The whales came in tight to shore. Note the seal right up near the beach on one photo. IDs from the photos Michelle submitted. Also one Orca looks like she’s about ready to give birth based on how fat she appears. – SM. ▫ Observed from Shore

17:30 • PWS Dolphins heading South off the Viewpoint in Powell River in Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore

12:30 • 5-7 Harbour Porpoise foraging, heading Unknown Direction by Point Atkinson at the entrance to Howe Sound. Seen from Lighthouse Park (Point Atkinson) between Passage Island. They appeared to follow boats back and forth. ▫ Observed from Shore

The Great Bear Rainforest agreement contributes directly to the survival of the Orca and Grizzly who are sustained by the salmon. Salmon habitat is now protected into the future by this agreement which protects and enhances the coastal rainforests of Central and North Coast BC.

The Great Bear Rainforest stretches from British Columbia’s Discovery Islands northwards to the Tongass Rainforest of Alaska. It covers 6.4 million hectares (15 million acres) and over half of the region is covered by forest ecosystems (3.6 million hectares).
This document maps the area that stretches North from the Discovery Islands and Broughtons along the coast to Alaska and inland past Bella Coola and Prince Rupert, and details the process involved in reaching the agreement and its implications.

A 24-foot humpback whale was among four marine mammals that washed ashore last weekend, along a stretch of the Oregon and Washington coastline, according to Keith Chandler, the manager of Seaside Aquarium.

The whale was found on the beach in Seaside on Sunday, a harbor porpoise washed up near Fort Stevens on Saturday and a striped dolphin was found on Cannon Beach on Saturday, Chandler said. Another striped dolphin washed up in Ocean Park, Washington, also on Saturday.

A new documentary is putting the Vancouver Aquarium’s controversial connections to SeaWorld and concerns over cetacean breeding back in the spotlight.
Gary Charbonneau’s film, Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered, explores the issues around loaning belugas to U.S. aquariums as well as the general practice of breeding belugas in captivity. The film can be found online at: https://vimeo.com/135299621

Marine scientist are now studying with the Canadian Military to learn techniques used to track ships and to hopefully better understand the impacts of ship noise on Marine mammals.

Mae Moore has started up an online petition to the House of Commons.

She says she would like Canadian whale watching boats to abide by the same rules as their Washington State counterparts.

"Their regulations are twice as strong as ours are currently in Canada. In Washington State, boats have to stay 200 yards away from any marine mammals and those are regulations. In Canada, they have to stay 100 meters away and they are guidelines, there is no enforcement."

A team of scientists measured underwater noise pollution off the coast of Washington, and found surprising impacts on nearby endangered orcas.
"In the summertime habitat of the endangered SRKWs, ship noise may interfere not only with SRKW communication (vocalizations) but also foraging and navigation (echolocation clicks)."
The authors suggested mitigation strategies include transfer of ship quieting technology from the military to civilian shipping and slowing down, which has other environmental benefits, like reducing collision risks, and is consistent with recent industry efforts to increase fuel efficiency.

A study underway in Kaikoura, NZ looks set to reveal the secret behaviour of dusky dolphins.

Video cameras will be attached to the mammals for the first time to track their social behaviour and diving habits, so it should give valuable details about their otherwise unknown movements.

The study is being led by Heidi Pearson, a marine biology professor from the University of Alaska Southeast, in Juneau, Alaska.

It’s not often that people get a glimpse of the largest animal that has ever lived. But rare drone footage of a blue whale mother and her calf gliding through the Southern Ocean off Antarctica has gone viral this week.

The footage was shot in late January by members of the activist group Sea Shepherd Society, who are patrolling the area in the ship Steve Irwin to deter poachers.

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