The Large and the Small

17:34 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading north off the harbour at Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

16:55 • 4-5 Biggs Orca spy hopping, heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. Moving slowly.

18:30 • Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? hunting, in Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

17:29 • Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? in Menzies Bay.

16:27 • Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? heading north off Race Point, Discovery Passage.

16:12 • Biggs Orca ?T002Cs? off Race Point.

15:22 • 2-3 Biggs Orca by Hernando Island, Malaspina Strait.

09:27 • Biggs Orca heading south off Viner Point, Sutil Channel.

11:30 • Biggs Orca heading south a couple miles off of Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait.

13:48 • 20 NRKW Orca ?B13 Yuculta? near Stubbs Island, Blackfish Sound. B13 and friends are back!.

13:20 • 10-15 NRKW Orca spread out, heading east off Bold Head, Swanson Island, Blackfish Sound.

13:59 • NRKW Orca ?A23s; A25s; A34s? in Blackfish Sound.

19:04 • 3-5 Humpback Whales off Hornby Island, Georgia Strait.

17:50 • 2 Humpback Whales off the south end of Hill Island heading towards Read Island, Sutil Channel.

16:05 • Humpback Whales ?BCZ Apollo; BCZ0338 Geometry? resting, off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Noses pointing northward. ▫ Leaving the Scene

15:42 • 2 Humpback Whales between Grant Reefs and Savary Island.

15:36 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south-west from Francisco Point to Wilby Shoals, Sutil Channel.

15:35 • 5 Humpback Whales doing circles, 3 miles SE of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.

14:44 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, between Center Islet and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.

14:33 • 1 Humpback Whales near Comox, Georgia Strait. The whale may have been hit by a boat. Information from a boater. ▫ Second Hand

14:27 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north about half-mile south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

13:45 • 3 Humpback Whales ?BCX0565 Nick; BCZ0004 Stripe; BCY0057 Niagara? between Hoskyn Rock and Viner Point, Sutil Channel. Nick and Stripe by Hoskyn Rock and Niagara was headed towards Viner Point.

13:04 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hornby Island and the mine on Texada Island, Georgia Strait.

13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales ?BCY0057 Niagara? heading north-east from Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

12:37 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, between Francisco Point and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.

11:11 • 2 Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

10:01 • Humpback Whales resting, close to the shore by Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. The whales were previously heading north but turned and were off Willingdon Beach.

09:38 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

09:32 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north by Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.

09:31 • Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

09:12 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Marina Island, Sutil Channel. A small whale.

09:06 • 1 Humpback Whales off Spilsbury Point, Hernando Island, Baker Passage.

08:30 • est. 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north-west off the mid-island section of Lasqueti Island across from Qualicum Beach, Georgia Strait. Remained off Lasqueti in the same area for about 30 minutes surfacing regularly with large visible tail fins. ▫ Observed from Shore

18:07 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.

16:49 • 2 Humpback Whales along ferry route between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.

16:39 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Viner Point, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

16:08 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Dogfish Bay towards Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.

15:09 • 2 Humpback Whales between Savary Island and Hernando Island, Malaspina Strait.

12:36 • 2-3 Humpback Whales at the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.

11:51 • 2 Humpback Whales ?BCY0057 Niagara; BCZ0339 Inukshuk? heading south by Viner Point, Sutil Channel.

11:31 • 2 Humpback Whales between Savary Island and Hernando Island, Malaspina Strait.

11:07 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south by Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait. Small whale.

10:58 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, at Read Point, Sutil Channel.

10:57 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, near Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.

10:54 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east by marker at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.

10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales by Viner Point, Sutil Channel. Small whale.

10:18 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.

09:13 • 2 Humpback Whales off Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. The whales were navigating through Penn Islands and then headed south towards Carrington Bay, Cortes Island.

18:05 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north about half mile south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

17:19 • 6 Humpback Whales doing circles, 3-miles SE of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. The whales were In two groups of threes.

16:39 • 3 Humpback Whales doing big circles, off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.

16:29 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. Lots of dives. ▫ Leaving the Scene

16:09 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south in front of marina at Campbell River, Discovery Passage.

12:31 • 3 Humpback Whales in Plunger Passage and were angling towards Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. They changed direction and headed towards Whaletown. ▫ Leaving the Scene

10:08 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.

08:55 • 2 Humpback Whales at the south end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.

13:43 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just south of Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel.

12:14 • Humpback Whales heading south off Junction Point, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel. Travelling at about 4 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene

11:15 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, near Teakerne Arm in Lewis Channel.

11:12 • 2 Humpback Whales 2-miles SW of Sentry Shoal.

09:17 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Center Islet, Sutil Channel.

09:00 • Humpback Whales off Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.

13:10 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Hill Island aiming for South Burdwood Bay, Sutil Channel.

12:51 • 2 Humpback Whales ?BCZ0338 Geometry? off Bold Point, Hoskyn Channel. Geometry and friend.

11:12 • 2 Humpback Whales at the south end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene

10:45 • 2 Humpback Whales off Stephenson Point, Discovery Passage.

10:20 • 2 Humpback Whales now at Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.

10:02 • Humpback Whales heading north at Steep Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

08:22 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north in front of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.

15:15 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading east 1-km east of Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Single Humpback, possibly juvenile (seemed smallish), surfaced right beside the ferry on the 3:05 pm crossing from Quadra to Cortes. ▫ From Ferry

07:09 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north close to shore near Atrevida Reef just north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. The tide was in and the whale was not very far out. Amazing!.

15:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Major Rock Islet and Baker Passage, Malaspina Strait.

07:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by Myrtle Rocks and observed till they reached Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.

09:38 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.

06:15 • 5-6 Humpback Whales bubble netting, coming into Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Came in as far as the rock by my anchorage, then worked the shoreline bubble feeding, then headed back out by the north side fish farm at 8am.

11:30 • 3 Humpback Whales heading west at the north end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.

11:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.

08:40 • 1 Humpback Whales south of Rendezvous Islands, Sutil Channel.

SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

16:14 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, off Ripple Shoal, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene

10:47 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, at Ripple Shoal.

17:30 • est. 50-60 PWS Dolphins off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.

16:47 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins doing circles, in Little Bear Bay, Johnstone Strait.

14:18 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins off Chatham Point heading into Nodales Channel.

12:40 • PWS Dolphins foraging, near Cinque Islands, Okisollo Channel. 4-5 groups of dolphins in the area.

10:55 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south close to Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.

10:20 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south just north of Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.

09:45 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins off Bear Point, Johnstone Strait. Information from water taxi. ▫ Second Hand

15:47 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading east at Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.

14:50 • 4 PWS Dolphins off Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel.

09:30 • PWS Dolphins heading west off Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand

10:15 • 25 PWS Dolphins doing circles, in Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.

09:20 • 10 PWS Dolphins off Granite Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

15:45 • PWS Dolphins by Sonora Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Small group.

11:00 • PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick Arm.

09:46 • est. 6 Dalls Porpoise by Elk Bay, Discovery Passage.

11:43 • Dalls Porpoise off Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait. Large group.

16:19 • Harbour Porpoise foraging, between the Quadra Island Scallop Farm and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.

16:04 • 1 Harbour Porpoise foraging, south of Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.

17:51 • Other Species between Marina Reef and the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.

14:59 • Other Species between Wilby Shoals and Cortes Island, Georgia Strait. A Sea Otter was observed. Angling towards Mitlenatch. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:09 • Other Species at the red can at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.

10:46 • 1 Other Species off Marina Reef. A Sea Otter was observed.

12:01 • Other Species at Davis Point, Nodales Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.

REGIONAL

Southern resident orcas are one of the most highly studied whale populations in the world. Every individual has a name and is photographed for an annual census that has been conducted for over 40 years by the Centre for Whale Research. We know their family trees, when they were born, who they favour spending time with, and even their individual personality traits. What we don’t know is where they are.

Research on the southern residents began in 1976 when…

Forest-dwelling fishers and five whales species maintained endangered species status at a meeting in Port Angeles last week.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 6-0 Friday to retain state-specific protections for the blue whale, fin whale, sei whale, North Pacific right whale, sperm whale and fishers during a five-year review at the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel….
Factors affecting whale populations include an overharvest during the whaling era, ship strikes, entanglements with fishing gear, disturbances from sound, effects of climate change on the food supply and oil spills and other contaminants, Anderson said.

State officials received 11 written comments on the re-listing of the five whale species, eight of which were supportive of the action.

Two called for an end to all commercial fishing, and one opposed the re-listing of the blue whale on the basis that its population had recovered.

Mark Malleson, lead skipper with the Prince of Whales Whale Watching Tours, says he has seen a record number of transient killer whales this season.

“It has been amazing,” explained Malleson. “Best year that I’ve seen so far.”

There is another species of orcas, called Southern Resident killer whales, whose recent migration patterns has Malleson and others concerned.

“We’ve seen a lot of animals that have shown up quite lean and skinny” Malleson said.

The resident killer whales are most active off the waters of Vancouver Island and Washington State.

Since April of this year, the three orca pods have been sighted only 27 times according to the Center for Whale Research.

This summer turned out to have the lowest number of sightings since studies on the population began in 1976.

“This population is on the razor edge of extinction,” explained Christianne Wilhelmson of the Georgia Strait Alliance. “There’s no other way to put it.”

Last year marked the deadliest year for the species in more than two decades.

Six resident whales died, including one of the oldest whales in the world who was affectionately known as “Granny.”…

WEST COAST

The California fishermen are part of a new effort using their cellphones’ GPS and new software pinpointing areas where lost or abandoned crabbing gear has been spotted. They retrieve the gear for a payment – at Half Moon Bay, it’s $65 per pot -before the fishing ropes can snag a whale.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Scientists are at a loss to explain one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale – why the animals are disappearing from their usual breeding grounds off the southeastern United States.

Usually, right whales spend the winter in their breeding grounds off Florida and Georgia.

Before 2011, more than 200 right whales were spotted in the area each year. In 2017, there were just seven.

“How tough can it be to find 200 whales? Apparently pretty tough,” said Jim Hain, senior scientist at Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, located near Falmouth, Mass.

It’s just one of the many puzzles these leviathans present to researcher…

A cruise industry group says it is working with government agencies to reduce speed restrictions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Donna Spalding, director of administration for Cruise Lines International Association for the northwest and Canada, said a number of alternatives are being explored….

The last thing Joe Howlett ever did, standing on a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada fast-boat bobbing in waters 20 kms off Shippagan, N.B., was give a smiling thumbs up to the five DFO officers with him just as he saved a whale’s life.
It was July 10. Howlett, a jovial 59-year-old had just used a long pole with a curved-back blade on the end to cut off the last line of tangled fishing gear likely to drag a massive and tiring North Atlantic right whale to its death.
Only an estimated 525 right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are known to exist and the species, which can grow up to 18 metres in length and weigh 70,000 kilograms, is listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act. To date, in what’s been called an extreme mortality event off North America’s Atlantic coast, the corpses of 13 right whales have been found this year; they’ve been killed by entanglements, ship strikes and other undetermined causes. Every additional dead right whale is a significant blow to the species’ future survival.

For us humans, the aurora borealis is a phenomenon of wonder: undulating swaths of green and red above the northern horizon, produced by charged particles and radiation from solar flares hitting our upper atmosphere, drawn magnetically to our northern and southern poles (for the aurora australis). After recent reports of three massive solar flares heading toward earth, many of us in the Northern Hemisphere hit the road late at night, hoping to be fortunate enough to experience the phantasm-like rippling ribbons of light. For other animals, though, the northern lights may mean something entirely different: What produces them may be what’s causing whales to fatally beach themselves on ocean shores….

A Hawaii tour operator has been fined for repeatedly dropping swimmers in front of dolphins and encircling the animals with his tour boat, officials said.

It’s the first such fine against an operator of spinner dolphin tours, Ann Garrett, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official in Hawaii, said this week.

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrative law judge found Casey Phillips Cho’s actions on Oct. 23, 2014, amounted to harassment of dolphins. She fined Cho and his Big Island company $2,500 in line with NOAA penalty guidelines.

Cho’s attorney, Brian DeLima, said his client disagreed with the findings. But he said Cho paid the fine rather than appeal as a business decision….