Candice Emmons from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presented her ongoing research on the acoustics of the southern resident killer whales, using D-TAGs. The DTAG was designed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts in 1999 to record the sounds that whales make as well as the sounds that they hear, as well as their movements for short periods of time.

www.marinemammal.org

Using a long pole, Candice tags the whales with the suction cupped D-Tag and follows the whale for 30 minutes, collecting fecal samples as well as recording any vessels that are within 1 kilometre of the whale. Candice’s research aims to accurately measure sound levels at the whale and any short-term changes in behaviour that result.

Jessica Lundin, from the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, has been detecting stress hormones in the southern resident killer whales through samples of their scat. Using Tucker, the famous scat detecting black labrador, Jessica collects scat samples from the killer whales, then analyses them for toxins, including OCPs, DDT, PCBs (industrial lubricants) and PBDEs (such as flame retardants).

She has gathered 2 samples so far (1 from J pod and 1 from L pod) and found that the sample from L pod had twice the level of DDT as that of J Pod. One potential explanation is that L pod has been seen off the coast of California more than J pod, where there is high agricultural run-off.

William Wilcock, a marine geophysicist from the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington, took us (metaphorically) out to the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents off the west coast of Vancouver Island to the Keck Seismic Network. Set up to monitor seismic activity around the vents, Wilcock found that while recording earthquakes on the seafloor, their sensors were also picking up fin whale calls. They were able to track the whales over periods of hours and map their direction of travel. He also found that they were picking up few calls during the summer but the calls came in thick and fast starting in the Fall and into the Winter. You can see results of his research on his website at http://gore.ocean.washington.edu/whales.html.

From November 27 to December 2, the town of Tampa, Florida became host to a throng of marine mammal biologists attending the 19^th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Many of us welcomed the break from the cold weather up North and exchanged our toques and coats for sandals and shorts. I was very grateful to receive funding from Cetus Research and Conservation Society and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, which allowed me to attend and present my graduate research. This conference provided scientists from far and wide a venue to showcase their research and really enabled networking and collaborations among attendees.

Workshops were held the weekend prior to the start of the conference, and I attended Viewing and Interacting with Marine Mammals in the Wild, hosted by the US National Marine Fisheries Service. This workshop was very interesting and presentations covered topics such as the effects of cruise ships in Alaska on harbor seals, marine mammal viewing guidelines and regulations from around the world, and new approaches to investigate sub-lethal impacts from anthropogenic sources.

I presented my research on the potential health effects on southern resident killer whales from exposure to exhaust emissions from whale-watching vessels. My research was published earlier this year in Marine Pollution Bulletin.

The talks and posters presented during the conference were incredible and I was especially fascinated by research on the cumulative threats that marine mammals face, as it is often not one factor but several that lead to population declines and health problems. I was also intrigued by all the technology-savvy gadgets in use today, such as tags attached to whales that gather information on all kinds of things like salinity, pH, and the speed, direction, depth, and global position of the animal. Some of these tags can even indicate when the animal is feeding! This technology is currently being used to investigate the behavioral changes of whales and even walrus’ from underwater noise caused by sources such as seismic surveys and shipping traffic.

Wild dolphins in Florida. Photo taken by: Andrea Buckman

At times, the conference was a little dismal given the local oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the amount of information presented on human-induced threats to marine mammals. But one morning during a coffee break, I noticed two bottlenose dolphins, a mother and calf, chasing fish about six feet away from me. It appeared as if the mother was using the wall below the building as a barrier for the fish and letting her calf catch them. Seeing dolphins so close to shore in an urban environment was such a “good news story”, and really made up for some of the discouraging news that was shared at the event.

The next Biennial Conference in 2013 will be held in Dunedin, New Zealand, and I’m sure the information presented there will be equally as important and cutting edge.

Cara Lachmuth has been a Straitwatch Driver and Coordinator for Cetus Research and Conservation Society since 2009.

The Salish Sea: inhabited for 14,000 years and home to humans, southern resident killer whales, humpbacks, gray whales, seals, sea lions, and…the list goes on. We all live here. As the 21st century marches on and the impacts on the Salish Sea change and grow, the need for all of our communities to come together with a plan is more and more evident.

Last week, governments, non-profit organizations, universities and citizen scientists from both sides of the border gathered in Vancouver to present and share the latest scientific research and to discuss transboundary collaborations as well as management and policy actions for this portion of our great oceans.

While this may sound a little dry (OK, potentially a lot dry), the conference was a really engaging and motivating forum with often eye-opening information being presented. For example, the Beam Reach Marine Science & Sustainability School has shown that during the quietest time in Haro Strait the average noise level is still 90 decibels. To give you an equivalent, that’s about the level of a power mower or a motorbike. That’s without any big ships around – that’s the quietest that it gets! The Beam Reach Marine Science team (Val Veirs, Scott Veirs and Jason Wood) further found that there is, on average, one big ship coming through the area every hour, day and night.

Jason Wood also presented his findings that in response to this constant noise, there has been vocal compensation by the southern resident killer whales – during 19 nights of recordings and 2600 calls, he found that while there was no significant change in call durations, the S10 call is more likely to be given in a noisy environment. The southern resident killer whales are a repetitive bunch – is this due to all the background noise?

Credit: Laurie MacBride/Georgia Strait Alliance

(Note: much of the research presented at the conference isn’t yet published but you can read previous publications by Val Veirs, Scott Veirs and Jason Wood at http://pubget.com)

Cetus presented a poster by Doug Sandilands, Nicole Koshure and Nic Dedeluk, which looked at boater interactions with the southern resident killer whales within their critical habitat. Results from data collected between 2007 and 2011 show that during the summer months, the southern resident killer whales experience an average of 62.5 interactions with vessels each day, and over 100 interactions per day during July and August. Not co-incidentally, the voluntary no-go zone off the west shore of San Juan Island had much lower interactions with vessels and shows significant benefit to the whales.

Leah Thorpe, also from Cetus, presented her initial findings on engaging professional mariners in citizen science and conservation, to much interest and acclaim.

Leah presenting her research

A big take home from the conference was the difference that citizen scientists (that is, you and me) can make to research and conservation in your own backyard. Not a marine biologist? Not a problem. There are so many environmental projects in communities throughout the Salish Sea that need passionate volunteers to get things off the ground and humming along – including Cetus! You can bring your skills to the table (enthusiasm is mandatory) and learn more as you do.

We had the perfect opportunity to catch up with our transboundary partners, Soundwatch, from San Juan Island and it was really inspiring to see and talk to the hundreds of people who are working on projects and issues around the Salish Sea. And while we work together above water, I like to think that sometimes the whales get together to discuss how they can manage us from below.

Our relationship with whales and other marine mammals has become complicated in our modern, motorized society. We have more opportunity than ever before to encounter them, whether it is through a dedicated company or our own access to watercraft. And yet so many marine mammals are at risk due to intense pressures form human activities – pollution (oil, organic chemicals, plastics and more), unsustainable fishing practices, disturbance and noise, to name a few. It is sad to think that our love for these animals can actually contribute to the pressures of ocean noise and disturbance. I love whales and I want to get close to them for the experience of a lifetime. But the more I follow them, the closer I get, the more difficult their life becomes, and the less likely I, or my little niece and nephew, will be to see them in the decades to come.

I am constantly shocked by how noisy the ocean can be in popular areas. And I’m usually only hearing the surface. I can only imagine how noisy it is underwater, where sound carries even further. My opportunities to listen with a hydrophone have been dominated by the constant whirring of boat engines.

It takes a lot of restraint and forethought to respect the Be Whale Wise guidelines. But it becomes easier when I think of life from the whales’ perspective, and when I realize what opportunities do exist for me to get close, but not too close, and actually contribute to the whales’ well-being.

In the summer of 2010, I travelled from Vancouver to Alert Bay as a volunteer to monitor whale and vessel activity at Robson Bight with Cetus Research and Conservation Society. It was there that I learned about the Straitwatch program, and that a branch of it existed closer to home, in Victoria. I learned that I could volunteer on the Straitwatch boat, which was like a dream come true. It was my duty to be on the water all day, to be where the whales were but to help educate boaters about the Be Whale Wise guidelines and prevent disturbances to whales.

I encourage anyone who loves to be on the water and near the whales to sign up to be a Straitwatch volunteer. I learned that it is possible to both Be Whale Wise and be thrilled. I also learned that if you want to know where the whales are, just look for the whale watching boats. Observing this early means you can take advance measures such as slowing down, avoiding their path and maintaining a respectful distance.

There are so many opportunities for us to do the right thing and help. Straitwatch provided me with one such opportunity, and I look forward to going back on the water with them next season!

By Anuradha Rao, a wonderful Straitwatch volunteer

In BC, you know it’s Fall when the rain arrives. And here in Johnstone Strait, you know the seasons are starting to turn when the sea lions have returned from their summer breeding rookeries and are feasting on chum salmon.

Straitwatch North has wrapped up another fantastic season on the water! Our last weekend saw the northern resident killer whales the A30s, A12 and the A36 boys, along with humpbacks trumpeting and feeding on herring balls. Queen Charlotte Strait was like glass with a beautiful Payne’s grey sky – that dark bluish-grey that definitely says Fall.

It was a different pace to July and August, when the sun was shining and we had very busy days approaching boats on the water, educating boaters and kayakers about the Be Whale Wise guidelines. On land, we celebrated the whales and the ocean at Sea Fest in Alert Bay, Salmon Days in Sointula and Filomi Days in Port Hardy.

But while it may be much quieter in terms of boat traffic, marine life is still busy up here. On September 19th, Marie (the Robson Bight Warden Program Coordinator) spotted two fin whales heading east past Cracroft Point. This was huge!! And so were the whales.

Fin whales can reach up to 27m long and it was especially exciting because it was the first time that fin whales have been seen in the Robson Bight area.

Even more recently, the T2Cs (transient killer whales) entered the Strait with a very new, very small baby – so new that he or she is still orange! Killer whale calves have a pale orange hue when born, which normally fades to white within a year.

We couldn’t have had such a great season without our awesome volunteers: Judy Cadrin, Karen Marzocco, Robin Quirk, Judit Torres, Taina Uitto, Brian McMorrow (who heroically jumped in front of Megan when a bear crossed their path while doing dock talks in Telegraph Cove) and our summer student Brittany Cook, who were all data-recording, photograph-taking superstars.

If you want to be whale wise over the winter, become a member of Cetus Research & Conservation Society!

http://cetussociety.org/membership/membership-levels/

Links:

Times Colonist – Judith Lavoie fin whale article

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Rare+whales+surface+Robson+Bight/5434759/story.html

Here is a brief summary of the Boat Bay upgrades:

Within the Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy, a rustic Warden Camp at Boat Bay acts as a base for the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program. The camp was developed in the 1970’s, when researchers and filmmakers were learning more about killer whales on the B.C. Coast. Since that time the camp has been used by various groups in various forms and the warden program, operated by Cetus Society, conducts 4 months of research and conservation work from this camp every year.

Tent pads, bridges and stairs, which were originally built in the 1970s, have been maintained over the years, primarily using wood that washes ashore. Understandably, many of them became rotten and unsafe over time. The Warden Camp was in desperate need of repair; luckily, this season we were able to complete some necessary upgrades, as we received a Community Legacy Grant. BC Parks is celebrating their 100th birthday this year and therefore wants to leave a lasting legacy in parks around BC. The Warden Camp was chosen as a park to upgrade because the Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy provides amazing opportunities to view passing whales from shore, thus allowing visitors to have a fantastic viewing experience, while having little if any impact on the marine life they are viewing. Having the Warden Camp within the Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy that can be used by campers, boaters, fishers and others provides a positive lasting legacy to the Parks Systems within BC.

As soon as we received word about the Community Legacy grant, the much-needed upgrades commenced. They included replacing existing tent pads, bridges, stairway/ladders, as well as installing windows and solid flooring to the existing Warden Station. These upgrades have not only increased safety but have also provided comfort and accessibility to all users of the park.

Of course the Warden Camp upgrades could not have been SO successful without all the wonderful staff and volunteers that helped out!! First and foremost we had to get all the lumber out to the Warden Camp at Boat Bay. Jim Borrowman, from Orcella Expeditions, offered his assistant during this essential task. We loaded all the lumber (it must have been at least a ton!) onto the M/V Gikumi and transported it to Boat Bay, where we had 10 amazing volunteers help us unload and pack it into camp. Not an easy feat but a great workout…we nicknamed it Boat Bay Boot Camp!

The second step was finding the right person for the job, that’s where Scott Harris fit in perfectly. Scott works for the Land Conservancy in Victoria and is very knowledgeable about completing construction projects in remote locations. Last year, Nitya, Scott’s wife, and himself volunteered with the wardens and fell in love with the place, but it wasn’t long before Scott was aching to fix many of the old and rotten structures around camp. He did what he could with the supplies we had, which wasn’t much…he barely put a dent in everything that was in need of an upgrade. Therefore Scott was very excited to hear when we received the grant and wanted him to come back to Boat Bay!

The third step was to find as many hands as possible to get the job done. Scott and Nitya recruited 2 of their keen friends Lori and Jack and they came out to Boat Bay for 10 days to work, work and work. The wardens, Doug, Robyn & Stacey, and volunteers, Erin & Emily, also helped out. Doug was especially handy to have around as he has some great carpentry skills. Everyone was exhausted after 10 days of non-stop labour intensive work but it was all worth it in the end, the Warden Camp looks INCREDIBLE!!!

Thanks again to all the amazing volunteers & staff who helped out, we couldn’t have done it without you!!! The list includes: Scott Harris, Nitya Harris, Lori Garcia-Meredith, Jack Meredith, Nic Dedeluk, Jim Borrowman, Christie McMillan, Leah Robinson, Megan Baker, Judy Cadrin, Robin Quirk, Erin Parsons, Stacey Hrushowy, Ernest Alfred, Robyn Hutchings, Doug Gow, Linda McGrew and Emily Franke. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

We can’t wait to get back out there next season and enjoy the fantastic new Warden Camp!

Photo credit: Lori Garcia-Meredith and Robin Quirk.

A typical Boat Bay morning

I paddled silently over the still water, casually glancing at my grizzled reflection in its mirror-like surface. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a river otter glutinously dissecting a fish on our dock, unaware of the mess he was creating. Suddenly a salmon hurled itself out of the water in what seemed like a gargantuan yet futile effort to catch a glimpse of a terrestrial world he would never discover. His mercurial body slapped loudly against the surface of the water, causing me to emerge from my morning reverie and clamber ashore. Once the necessary safety checks were completed aboard the warden boat, the four-stroke engine spluttered reluctantly to life, as if it had not the least bit concern for the challenges that faced the northern resident Orcas in the day ahead.

No sooner had I had positioned myself parallel to the reserve, than a tinny tune broke the air. On answering my cell, Marie informed me that the Northern residents were steaming down Johnstone Straight. The fog had lifted now and I busied myself educating boaters about the presence and purpose of the reserve, and when necessary, the whereabouts of the whales. Most boaters were receptive; however, I came across a large yacht owned by a gentleman who seemed to think such guidelines were not applicable to him. He defensively excused himself whilst chasing down the whales in the small zodiac he had launched from the yacht.

For many minutes, a calm descended on the bight. The boat traffic had slowed to a well behaved trickle and I watched a float plane descended lazily towards the surface of the ocean, then, with a jolt of panic I saw the Orcas surfacing right in the path of the plane. My heart began to race, I realized the plane belonged to the obnoxiously large yacht that I had contacted twice previously due to his continued harassment of the whales.

Rage bubbled within- threatening to overflow on to the ‘be whale wise’ brochures I clasped in my shaking hands. How could people be so inconsiderate? Treating the home of a threatened species like a playground for the rich?!

I hurried over to the pilot while making sure to keep over 100m away from the whales. A torrent of expletives rushed through my head converging into whirlpool of words more fierce than the waters of hells gate. With a titanic effort to steady my voice I calmly inquired “have you ever heard of be whale wise guidelines?” “Sure” he drawled in his smooth city voice, immediately giving away his unfamiliarity with his surroundings “ I was circling ’round, looking for whales”. His words did little to abate my anger and I found it harder to compose myself this time, as I blurted out “and you normally use thirty whales as your landing strip?” At this he looked taken aback perhaps realizing the recklessness of his actions. For the first time, a look of panic began to cross his face giving him the strange appearance of disobedient child that had only just realized the repercussions of his behavior. “I’m sorry” he stammered reaching out to take the brochure from my hands as his guests awkwardly watched on- one of the women looking close to tears after the near miss.

Stacey, a Warden at Robson Bight.

As I rowed back across the bay that night I reflected on the days events. I felt both physically and mentally drained as my brain went over and over what had happened. Was there anything else I could have done to prevent this near catastrophe I mused?

Unfortunately, although this was a particularly dramatic encounter it was by no means an isolated incident. The resilience of the cetaceans that frequent Johnstone Straight never ceases to amaze me – as they weave a dangerous path through gill nets, tugs and speed boats they expend precious energy that could be directed into foraging and socializing. It saddens me to remember that only two weeks ago Robin witnessed a head on collision between a humpback and a speedboat. My only consolation is that through educating as many boats as possible about the ‘be whale wise’ guidelines and the importance of ecological reserves the outlook for these fantastic, intelligent and sociable mammals can only get better.

The End
Disclaimer: This story, written by our RObson bight Warden, Doug Gw, was based on a real day… some dramatization added by Emily Franke (Volunteer)

Canuck dorsal fin shot - showing skin condition and whale lice

All these clues, in addition to the whales’ diving behaviour (five minutes between dive cycles, with a high-arching back on the terminal dive, but never bringing the tail flukes above the water) reminded us immediately of a humpback known as Canuck. A couple weeks previously, Canuck had been sighted 60 nm north of us in Georgia Strait, and was reported as entangled in fishing gear with a small white float following along the surface behind it. But this whale had no float trailing behind it, as Canuck did when he was last seen. Could it be the same whale?

Two weeks earlier, on August 11th, we were participating in a survey of Georgia Strait with the Vancouver Aquarium’s B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network (BCCSN) when we got a call from Lisa Spaven of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Lisa coordinates the BC Marine Mammal Response Network (BCMMRN) – a network of mariners from government, the whale watching industry, non-governmental associations and researchers who respond to dead, injured, sick and harassed marine mammals. Lisa reported that an entangled humpback whale had been spotted about 20 nautical miles south of us. This same whale had been observed by whale watchers periodically since July 31st, trailing a small white float near Active Pass in southern Georgia Strait. Photos from whale watchers allowed researchers from the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) to confirm that this was a known humpback whale – Canuck. Canuck was first sighted by researchers from Orcalab on May 25th (getting it’s name from the Canucks hockey team, because of a small puck like marking on it’s tail fluke and because the Canucks won the Western Conference Final that day). MERS researchers checked photos they had taken of Canuck in early June, which showed Canuck breaching repeatedly and fluking, showing most of every part of the whales’ body – and confirmed the whale was gear free. The entanglement must have occurred since early June.

When we arrived on scene on August 11th, we were extremely thankful that whale watchers were standing by with the whale. The importance of staying with an entangled whale can not be understated. Without a vessel standing by, rescuers will almost never be able to re-locate the whale that same day – it’s a big ocean and even if sighting conditions are ideal whales can be very hard to find. We quickly documented everything we saw, collecting: a photo identification shot of the whale, video of the whale’s behaviour, photos of the whale’s body condition and photos of the gear we could see at the surface. Unable to see how the whale was entangled as the water conditions resembled the consistency of chocolate milk and with no authorization from DFO to tag the whale, or otherwise intervene, we motored slowly back to Vancouver wondering when and if the whale would be spotted again.

We sent the photos to experts from the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and MERS, who both confirmed that the whale lice and peeling skin indicated that Canuck was not healthy. The PCCS has been pioneering disentanglement methods and entanglement research since the early 1980s. Since then their methods have been adopted and lauded worldwide.

Cetus Research & Conservation Society (Cetus) has been acquiring the training and tools to properly conduct responses to entanglements. In 2009, after helping DFO respond to two entanglements, we received a grant from the Mountain Equipment Coop to acquire disentanglement gear, a satellite tag to track entangled whales and attain more entanglement response training. Our staff have been training for entanglement response since a 2005 workshop put on the by the Vancouver Aquarium, and taught by a whale disentanglement expert from the PCCS. Additionally, one of our staff has participated in over twenty five disentanglements during her work with the PCCS, while another has attended a two week training at the PCCS in 2010 which included participating in live disentanglement efforts. Over the past year, Cetus has been negotiating with DFO to obtain authorization to assist with entanglement response and the process is well underway. Since coming across Canuck on August 11th, DFO has provided Cetus with a temporary authorization to assist with the entanglement response.

DFO is responsible for marine mammals in Canadian waters. Any interactions between humans and marine mammals which might be considered a disturbance, including rescue efforts, must be conducted by trained personnel under authorization from DFO. This authorization is difficult to attain and rightly so. Efforts by untrained rescuers to disentangle whales from fishing gear have resulted in death and injury to the rescuers, have caused unnecessary injury to the whale and often leave the most life-threatening parts of the entanglement on the whale. Further, response to entanglements is about more than just cutting the whale free. Entanglements are fairly rare events and present a very important learning opportunity. Proper documentation can help us to understand how and where the whale became entangled, what kind of gear was involved, what body parts became entangled, and from what population the whale came. With this information, researchers can learn: how to modify gear so that it entangles whales less frequently; which whale was involved, what injuries the whale sustained and the long term outcome for the whale; if certain populations are more frequently entangled; and which fishery types represent a higher risk to threatened species.

After leaving Canuck still entangled on August 11th, DFO, Cetus, and the Aquarium’s BCCSN conducted several surveys in Georgia Strait in the hopes of finding the whale again. The whale watching community has taken a particular interest in Canuck and has donated countless hours and resources to the search for Canuck. The BCCSN and the BCMMRN worked hard to get information out to the public including blogs about Canuck, how to report sightings and what to do if you encountered the whale on the water. The media picked up the story, which generated numerous reports of humpback whale sightings, but with no one able to standby and as many reports came late in the day there had not been a confirmed sighting of Canuck until we chanced upon him/her on August 25th.

We were amazed at our good fortune that morning, to have come across Canuck by chance! Humpback whales can travel great distances (100 nm per day) and can dive for up to 15 minutes or more making it difficult to resight them. Not only were we lucky to have spotted Canuck, but we had also kept our disentanglement gear on board the boat in the off-chance that somebody else would come across him, so that we could assist any response efforts. As we were in U.S. waters we quickly contacted Soundwatch, officials with NOAA Fisheries and DFO to apprise them of the sighting and offer to stand by and assist any efforts. The San Juan Island Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SJIMMSN) has permission from NOAA Fisheries to conduct entanglement response in Washington. However, no one from the SJIMMSN with training to respond to entanglements was anywhere nearby. NOAA officials quickly provided authorization to Cetus (through the SJIMMMSN and Soundwatch – Straitwatch’s sister program based out of San Juan Island) to assess Canuck and make an attempt to disentangle the whale. We were immediately in touch with colleagues at the PCCS to ask advice and develop a plan. With Soundwatch providing assistance, by explaining our actions to the whale watch community and other boaters and by helping keep vessels clear of the path of the entangled whale, we obtained underwater video of Canuck’s tail and flukes to determine how he/she was entangled.

This footage was critical in confirming that Canuck was still entangled (as no gear was visible at the surface), providing key information on what body parts were involved and helping to develop a plan to disentangle the whale.

For the next several hours we attempted to grab the line trailing behind Canuck using specialized tools developed by the PCCS. This would allow us to attempt to disentangle Canuck and, if disentanglement efforts were not successful that day, to attach our satellite tag so we could find Canuck again the next morning. However, the action of Canuck’s flukes made grabbing the trailing gear very difficult. As we crossed into Canadian waters, DFO staff also made attempts for several hours to grab the line trailing Canuck; but were also unsuccessful despite their determined effort.

And so….once again, we left Canuck at dark, disappointed and unsure of what the outcome for this whale would be.

Canuck is a unique case in British Columbia (B.C.) and Washington State, in that he was observed in a highly traveled section of the coast line and was seen repeatedly. B.C. has a large amount of uninhabited coastline, where few observers exist to report incidents of entanglement. In contrast, on the east coast of Canada and the US, where there is a highly developed entanglement reporting network, hundreds of hours of marine mammal surveys conducted by plane, a highly trained response team, and a heavily populated coastline – only 10% of entanglements are reported. This is understood on the east coast based on a study of the number of whales that are observed with new entanglement scars each year. Since the inception of the BCMMRN in B.C., between four and eighteen whales have been reported entangled annually. Sadly, entanglements almost certainly happen much more frequently across the B.C. and Washington Coast than the number of reports suggest. That Canuck’s entanglement is no longer visible at the surface, provides further pause. How many other whales off our coast have cryptic entanglements?

Canuck’s entanglement was a good test for the relatively new response network, and there’s still lots to learn. While the outcome for Canuck is uncertain, the amazing people that pulled together to assist Canuck gives us hope.

What can you do to help with the issue of entanglement in B.C.:

- report sighting of whales, dolphins and porpoise to the BCCSN;
- report sightings of unhealthy whales to the BCMMRN at 1-800-465-4336;
- become a member of the BCMMRN in your local community by contacting Lisa Spaven (lisa.spaven(at)dfo-mpo.gc.ca);
- if you see an entangled whale call the BCMMRN immediately and stay with the whale;
- donate to research, such as that conducted by MERS to catalog humpback whales in BC waters; and,
- donate to Cetus Society’s efforts to continue to develop entanglement response in BC.

By Doug Sandilands and Nicole Koshure

****** UPDATE ******

Listen to an interview on the Bill Good show on CKNW about the Canuck entanglement.

Then join as a Volunteer for the Straitwatch South Program with Cetus Research and Society!

Connel, our intern from the UK, prepping the boat for the day.

Some of the goals of Straitwatch include creating statistics about the number of vessels around a group of whales, as well as noting incidents concerning the Whale Wise Guidelines. In order to take much of the data needed for reports and papers, volunteers and interns are required – and very much appreciated!

Along with the tasks of acquiring all of the data necessary, the Straitwatch driver and crew spend a lot of time out on the water approaching boats and doing educational talks to private boats about the whales around Vancouver Island and the Whale Wise Regulations.

A Volunteer’s day begins around 9:00am at the Dock B31 in the Oak Bay Marina. Here lies the Straitwatch Zodiac. Here, you’ll meet both the intern and the driver of the boat, and begin with the preparations for the day. Besides checking the engines, you’ll have to check all communication devices as well as the radar and the security tools prior to leaving the dock. Of course we have to also make sure that we have enough sheets for all the notes we’ll make during the day.
If this is also done you just have to put on one of the waterproof pants and you’re good to go!

On my first day as a Straitwatch volunteer, I was given a short introduction to all the things on the boat and the intern showed me how to fill out the sheets for the Vessel Counts and the Incident Scans. After preparing the boat for the trip, the driver’s task is to first find out where the whales can be found this day.

Leaving the Oak Bay Marina

You’ll leave the marina at about 9:30am, and on all the days I’ve been out, we headed straight to the San Juan Islands. The Whales are often travelling up and down the Haro Strait, which is right between the southeast tip of Vancouver Island and San Juan Island.

Depending on the weather and sea conditions we generally spot the first whales within an hour of leaving the Marina; therefore, the first count and scan generally starts at 11:00am.

During a count, you have to count all vessels around the whales within a radius of one kilometer as well as the slow zone of 400m. In addition to that you have to note the Waypoint from the GPS, the coordinates and all available information about the whales, the sea and the weather. It sounds daunting, but with the teamwork, the count is really quick thing.

The next important task of the crew is the incident scan every two hours. During this 20minutes you’ll watch the scene carefully and note all incidents – if someone is breaking the Washington State Laws (Whale Wise Regulations). If necessary we take pictures of these situations.

Whales seen from a safe distance... 200 meters away.

Between the counts the crew tries to keep out an eye on the scene and reach some private boats to talk with them about Whale Wise Behavior, such as to not drive too close to whales and to not drive too quickly when whales are near. Sometimes it happens that boats are entering the area where whales are foraging or swimming way too quickly. During these times we attempt to reach the boat before they get too close to the whales.

Besides the Counts, Scans and Talks the crew also does research work. Depending on the behavior of the whales and their configuration we try to record some vocalizations with a hydrophone. We estimated the direction of the whales and “parked” our boat along side but not too near of their route. One end of the hydrophone is in the water and the other is connected it to a laptop. Sometimes it happens that while parked the whales change their direction a little bit and appear close to the boat. In these situations the interns and staff might try to get good pictures of the animals for identification reasons. This is done in order to monitor each animal’s health.

Marie, taking a photo of an incident.

During my days on the water, most of the contacts with private boats have been very friendly and understanding. The people really appreciate that someone cares about the Whales and that you help them to behave in the right way. To get the statistic data about these talks you also have to mark a waypoint on the GPS and note some information about the boat and its passengers.

Usually the work on the water ends around 5:00pm and depending on your actual location you are back at the Marina between 6 and 7pm. And If the conditions are good you are going high-speed the whole trip!

You see, there’s always something going on when you are out with Straitwatch. It was very interesting and so exciting to learn something about Orca Whales and take part in this important preservation work. The Drivers as well as the Interns were great and it was always fun. Especially the high-speed ride back to the Marina in the evening was awesome!

So don’t hesitate and be a part of a great team and an important organization! To apply for volunteer or intern positions, email info@cetussociety.org.

Philip Gerlac, the author of this post.

Philip Gerlach is from Hagen, Nordrhein-Westfalen. He and his girlfriend, Nina, came to Victoria on the 14th of April this year and have been volunteering for Cetus all summer.

Thanks to Philip, Nina, and all of our other volunteers. Without you we would not be able to do the great things that we do.

The western portion of the Johnstone Strait lies within the identified critical habitat area for northern resident (fish-eating) killer whales, and makes up much of the core patrol range for the Straitwatch North program.  The salmon runs through this area make it one of the best places in the world to view killer whales in the summer time, and these whales, along with a myriad other species of wildlife ( seals, sea lions, bald eagles, minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and many seabirds) attract tourists from around the world.

In recent years, tarps, tents, and colourful kayaks have started to line the shores of the western Johnstone Strait as well.  Paddlers come here for the opportunity to camp and kayak along BC’s rocky and forested coastlines, and, if they are lucky, to see whales and other marine mammals from a very unique vantage point.

Kayaking can be a low-impact (and exciting!) way to view killer whales and other wildlife… as long as paddlers stick the Be Whale Wise guidelines.  These guidelines aim to ensure that paddlers do not interfere with whales’ abilities to hunt, catch, and share fish, or rest and travel – especially when the whales are close to shore.  Resident killer whales are picky eaters; while in the Johnstone Strait area, they eat almost exclusively salmon, and the vast majority of their prey is Chinook salmon (the biggest and highest-energy of the 5 salmon species in the North Pacific).  Often, these killer whales hunt their prey very close to the shoreline, and they need a shoreline free of obstacles to give them the best chance of being able to catch enough food.

The very best place for kayakers to watch whales is from the beach… seeing whales foraging from onshore often allows for  incredible viewing opportunities, while having no impact at all on the whales.  But if making it to the beach is not an option, kayakers can still keep themselves from being obstacles by rafting up and staying at least 100m away, on the offshore side of foraging whales. By rafting (pulling all the kayaks in one group close to one another), the whales are disturbed less, as they view the raft as a single, large obstacle, as opposed to several smaller ones. Moreover, staying on the offshore side of the whales as they forage allows the whales to travel along their natural path, and see or hear what they need to in order to be able to find food.

Thanks to kayaks donated to the Cetus Research and Conservation Society by Atlantis Kayaks in Ladysmith, BC. Straitwatch North is doing some of our outreach and education about the Be Whale Wise guidelines fromthese  kayaks.  Staff members Megan Baker, Elke Van Breemen, and Christie McMillan have each taken opportunities to share information about whales, guidelines, and threats to marine mammals with kayakers from our Straitwatch kayaks, often prompting great discussions and requests for further information.  We also visit popular kayaking launch points and campsites, taking opportunities to chat with paddlers while they are on shore.  This week, Megan and Elke even camped at Kaikash, one of the area’s preferred camping spots for both commercial and non-guided kayak trips.  They spent the evening doing presentations for the groups camped there, and even got to watch as a group of fish-eating killer whales swam by the beach just as the sun sent over the Johnstone Strait!

Sharing information from kayaks has been a fantastic way for Straitwatch to educate more people, and a great complement to the education and monitoring we do from our Zodiac.

For more information about Be Whale Wise guidelines for both power boaters and kayakers, please see www.straitwatch.org, or contact us at info@straitwatch.org.

By: Christie McMillan, Straitwatch North Coordinator