Porpoises in BC
Here in the coastal waters of British Columbia, we are lucky to have two species of porpoises. One of the species is Dall’s porpoises. Our cover image shows two Dall’s porpoises surfacing. They can grow up to 7-feet long (2.2-m) and they can be recognized by their triangular-shaped dorsal fin that have a white tip. Their bodies are black colour with one large white patch on each side of the body, and because of their colour pattern and size, Dall’s porpoises may be mistaken as baby Orca. Dall’s porpoises are fast swimmers, travelling up to 60 km/h and they can often be found zigzagging in front of boats. Harbour porpoise is the other type of porpoise here in British Columbia. Harbour porpoises are smaller compared to the Dall’s porpoises growing to lengths of 6-feet and they are usually dark brown or grey in colour. Harbour porpoises travel slowly and they may be found in small pods of 4-6 individuals. Eventhough porpoises are small, they can be seen when you are out on a boat or looking out from a land. Often, you may hear their blows first indicating their presence. So keep your eyes and ears open when looking for them!
The Federal Government (DFO) statement about watching whales in the wild: “To address disturbance in the presence of whales, a mandatory 400-metre vessel approach distance for all killer whales is in effect starting June 1, 2020 in all southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. The Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round, including maintaining a minimum 200 metre approach distance from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than described above, and 100 metres for other whales, porpoises and dolphins OR 200 metres when the animal is in resting position or with a calf.”
WOWs works throughout the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
Upcoming events:
Our annual Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, is now rescheduled for April 2022. We are confident that by then we will be able to hold a successful event.
Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated. We thank you greatly for your support!
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For research access to 26,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
WOWs Website:
Work has been slowly prgressing to provide better links and information on our programs. It is taking a bit longer than anticipated to upload the fully redesigned website and ensure all internal links will work correctly. With all that we have going on throughout the Summer months, we anticipate that it will be uploaded in October. Please bear with us.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live Web Camera YouTube Channel streams from Powell River 24/7 with views towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez. Hope you've been seeing some of the whales.
Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us? We will not be accepting applications until October when we will have current availabilities posted.
Review our previous Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are being revamped in conjunction with our web sites.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2021-021
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Aug 18 2021
16:18 • Biggs Orca heading north off Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 19 2021
10:10 • est. 3-4 Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ off Bold Point, Quadra Island, Hoskyn Channel.
11:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ bucking tide, in Beazley Passage, Surge Narrows, Hoskyn Channel. Attempted to travel through passage but finally turned back.
12:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ by Breton Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Aug 23 2021
09:37 • Biggs Orca in Gorge Harbour.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:00 • 3 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south-west towards the south entrance to Gorge Harbour. Just cruising. ▫ Observed from Shore
Bruce Partridge, Cortes Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales near Gorge Harbour
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 – 1 items
Bruce Partridge, Cortes Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales near Gorge Harbour
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 – 1 items
Bruce Partridge, Cortes Island, BC
10:07 • Biggs Orca heading for Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
10:42 • est. 5 Biggs Orca heading north at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:56 • Biggs Orca heading towards Breton Islands, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:10 • Biggs Orca heading north-west on the south side of the Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:43 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north approaching Burdwood Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. T101s and others.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:44 • Biggs Orca at Burdwood Bay, Read Island.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:09 • Biggs Orca at Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Aug 24 2021
10:36 • Biggs Orca off the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:20 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading south off Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:38 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading south off Burdwood Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:19 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading south-west off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:38 • Biggs Orca heading south passing the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:06 • Biggs Orca by Francisco Point on Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. They were in Heriot Bay before making their way to Francisco Point.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:30 • est. 3-4 Biggs Orca close to Dickson Shoal, Chancellor Channel. 1 big fin.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
16:00 • Biggs Orca approaching the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
16:30 • Biggs Orca heading south at Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:58 • Biggs Orca heading south off Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
18:00 • Biggs Orca heading east past Cordero Lodge NE of Greene Point Rapids, Cordero Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Aug 25 2021
08:40 • 3 Biggs Orca past Hill Island towards Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
10:15 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ in Deer Passage. T101s plus 2-3 others.
12:17 • Biggs Orca at Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:18 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading south off Raza Point, Calm Channel. T101s and others.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Aug 21 2021
09:55 • NRKW Orca spread out, heading north at Greensea Bay on the west side of Sonora Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Bradden Kiley, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:21 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A42s◦ around Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:45 • NRKW Orca heading north just past Rock Point, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
12:43 • NRKW Orca at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait. Moving at 10 knots.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:30 • 3+ NRKW Orca heading west at Ripple Point. 1 big fin, 2 small.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sat Aug 21 2021
06:45 • est. 15-20 Orca between Menzies Bay and Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
08:30 • Orca heading north mid channel passing Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:41 • Orca heading east between Rock Bay and Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Aug 15 2021
13:10 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ at the Spoil Grounds south of Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Aug 18 2021
09:34 • 3 Humpback Whales off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
09:34 • 1 Humpback Whales by the reef at Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
16:18 • Humpback Whales by Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 19 2021
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales between Francisco Point and Marina Reef mid Sutil Channel.
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales near Smelt Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
09:45 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ at Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
10:15 • 3 Humpback Whales in Okisollo Channel.
10:30 • Humpback Whales by the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
12:30 • 3 Humpback Whales foraging, off Springer Point, Sonora Island, Okisollo Channel. The whales were working together to feed. They were in the same location for many hours.
13:45 • 2 Humpback Whales by Hoskyn Rock, Sutil Channel.
17:00 • 3 Humpback Whales by Gypsy Shoal, Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Aug 21 2021
07:30 • 3 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south mid channel between Texada Island and Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
SW, Powell River, BC
08:57 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, just out from Beach Gardens Marina, Malaspina Strait.
08:57 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, at the southern tip of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:15 • Humpback Whales on ferry line out from Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:43 • 1 Humpback Whales at Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:35 • 4 Humpback Whales south of Hill Island. Long dives.
14:25 • 1 Humpback Whales south of Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:20 • 1 Humpback Whales near Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
15:42 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at the south end of Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:05 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Hill Island, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:18 • Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Quadra Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel.
16:40 • 1 Humpback Whales at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Campbell River Whale Watching
17:00 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ at Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
Sun Aug 22 2021
08:55 • est. 5 Humpback Whales quite close to Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Possible southbound.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:24 • est. 8-10 Humpback Whales feeding and breaching, out from Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
10:38 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, by Bullock Bluff, pointed at Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:08 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, at Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Sleepy mom and calf.
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:30 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales at Hoskyn Rock, Sutil Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:00 • est. 2 Humpback Whales by Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales by Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Lumpy seas.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:31 • 1 Humpback Whales near the south end of the Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
16:16 • 2 Humpback Whales at Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf.
16:16 • 1 Humpback Whales 0.5 mile out at Von Donop Inlet.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:40 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Callahan◦ milling, at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
19:09 • 2 Humpback Whales pec and tail slapping, at Read Point, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Aug 23 2021
08:00 • 3 Humpback Whales milling, heading west at the mouth of Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
SW, Powell River, BC
09:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off the sea lion haul out at Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
11:41 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, east of Mitlenatch Island, pointing at Manson Passage, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:49 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:23 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east at the north side of Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:27 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Sergeant,BCY Pingu◦ breaching, at the southern tip of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 – 9 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 – 9 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:48 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ east of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
16:49 • Humpback Whales breaching, at Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Aug 24 2021
09:52 • Humpback Whales off South Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:25 • 1 Humpback Whales between South Rendezvous Island and Raza Island, Calm Channel.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:16 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales a few miles to the southeast of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. Very active.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island, BC
14:28 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:06 • 1 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, 2 miles off the northwest end of Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:22 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hernando Island and Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
19:31 • est. 6+ Humpback Whales spread out, near Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Diving and travelling back and forth.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Aug 25 2021
07:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north between Curme Islands and Otter Island, Desolation Sound.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
08:40 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, south side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
09:04 • 2 Humpback Whales between Francisco Point and Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
09:29 • Humpback Whales breaching, by Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:47 • 1 Humpback Whales south-east of Mace Point, Malaspina Strait.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale with dorsal fin injury
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale with dorsal fin injury
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Aug 21 2021
11:10 • PWS Dolphins at the entrance to Frederick Arm.
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:08 • PWS Dolphins in Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:45 • PWS Dolphins heading north from Hemming Bay, East Thurlow Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Aug 22 2021
09:50 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins heading north at Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
10:26 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins heading east at Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:00 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins milling in Frederick Arm. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:45 • PWS Dolphins at Dent Rapids.
Radio, overheard or call out
17:14 • PWS Dolphins heading north behind Little Dent Island, Dent Rapids. At 17:25, the dolphins were off Horn Point northbound moving at 6 knots. Leaving the Scene.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
18:10 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins entering Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Aug 23 2021
09:50 • PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:05 • PWS Dolphins heading east from Horn Point, Dent Rapids. ▫ Second Hand
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:39 • PWS Dolphins by Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:15 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins entering Wellbore Channel. Coming from Chancellor Channel.
15:05 • PWS Dolphins playing, at Camp Point, Johnstone Strait. Small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
17:00 • PWS Dolphins heading south at Elk Point, Discovery Passage.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue Aug 24 2021
10:51 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed Aug 25 2021
09:05 • PWS Dolphins abeam Vansittart Point off Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
11:14 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins by Denham Bay, Dent Rapids.
Radio, overheard or call out
DALLS PORPOISE
Mon Aug 23 2021
15:00 • est. 20 Dalls Porpoise at Horn Point, Dent Rapids.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Aug 24 2021
10:15 • Dalls Porpoise heading west off Channe Island towards Shoal Bay, Cordero Channel.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Aug 23 2021
10:46 • 2 Harbour Porpoise at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Tue Aug 24 2021
15:43 • Harbour Porpoise by Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer navigates 25,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings. Please use the the funnel in our Map for access to our huge range of filters. Those wishing Research information in a spreadsheet format, please Click Here
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The Magazine
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
The Guardian
Blue whales, the world’s largest mammals, are returning to Spain’s Atlantic coast after an absence of more than 40 years.
The first one was spotted off the coast of Galicia in north-west Spain in 2017 by Bruno DÃaz, a marine biologist who is head of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in O Grove, Galicia….
read on
Hakai Magazine
The Guiana dolphin, or tonina as the locals call it, is an iconic species in Lake Maracaibo, an inlet of the Caribbean Sea in Venezuela. But the future for these small pinkish-bellied dolphins is far from rosy. Foraging for fish along the shore, the dolphins often encounter fishermen doing the same-with tragic results. With a patchy distribution along the coastal areas of South and Central America, isolated populations of Guiana dolphins are especially vulnerable to human pressures. Threatened by overfishing, by-catch, boat traffic, and frequent oil spills, Guiana dolphins are facing an increasing threat-deliberate hunting….
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ABC News (Australia)
Fewer-than-expected southern right whales have been spotted during one of Australia’s longest-running aerial surveys along WA’s south coast. The WA Museum aerial survey, first conducted in 1976, covers the coastlines from Fremantle in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia each year. Murdoch University researcher Joshua Smith said, while the count had not been finalised, southern right whale numbers were down, particularly off southern WA….
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Shenzhen sets up temporary protection zone for Bryde’s whale swimming off the southern Chinese coast
South China Morning Post
The Chinese city of Shenzhen has set up a temporary protection zone for a Bryde’s whale that has been lingering off the nearby coast for almost two months, local fishing authorities said on Wednesday….
read on
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