Wild Whales – B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network

Wild Whales – a new website of the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, a conservation and research program of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Many species of whales, dolphins, porpoise and sea turtles in
British Columbia’s waters are listed as at risk. You’ll find the latest
information on threats to cetaceans and sea turtles, and simple actions you can do to help protect marine wildlife, including how to Be Whale Wise when you’re out on the water. You’ll also learn more about research and conservation efforts for cetaceans and sea turtles in B.C.

Have you seen a cetacean or sea turtle but aren’t sure which species it was? You’ll find tips on identifying species and natural history information for every species that may be encountered in B.C., from harbour porpoises to blue whales. Be sure to report your sightings to us, so that we can continue our efforts to help cetaceans and turtles.

From their web site:

Wild Whales is the home of the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, a
collaboration of the Vancouver Aquarium and Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, based in the Vancouver Aquarium’s Cetacean Research Lab. Our
goal is to increase public awareness of British Columbia’s whales,
dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles, and the threats to their survival.
You can help by reporting animals you see in B.C. waters and by
learning more about how to minimize your impact to marine mammals in
our Threats section.

Who we are and what we do:

The B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network is a network of over 1,800
observers across British Columbia, including whale watching operators,
lighthouse keepers, charter boat operators, tugboat captains, BC
Ferries personnel, researchers, government employees, recreational
boaters and coastal residents. Our observers report their sightings of
cetaceans and sea turtles via our website, toll-free hotline, email, or our logbook program.

By soliciting sightings from mariners and coastal citizens, Wild
Whales works to both gather data on the occurrence of whales, dolphins
and porpoise in BC waters and to educate boaters and coastal citizens
about the threats these species face.

Wild Whales does presentations to thousands of British Columbians at
schools, community groups, professional associations and festivals
throughout the year. Wild Whales has participated in the development of
the Be Whale Wise Marine Wildlife Guidelines for Boaters, Paddlers and Viewers (Revised 2006) and is a member of the BC Marine Mammal Response Network.

How we got started:

In the early 1970s, Dr. Michael Bigg of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
was asked to count the number of wild killer whales along the coast of
B.C. to ensure that the roughly 20 killer whales captured each year for
display in aquaria was not impacting the population. At the time, the
number of killer whales in B.C., Washington and Alaska was estimated to
be in the thousands. To solve this problem, Dr. Bigg utilized two novel
methods.

Dr. Bigg quickly realized that each killer whale has markings on its
dorsal fin and saddle patch that are unique to each individual. He
began a catalogue of killer whales documenting almost every killer whale in B.C.; a catalogue that is still evolving today.

However, to get a quick estimate of the killer whale population, Dr.
Bigg took the suggestion of the first Vancouver Aquarium president, Dr.
Murray Newman, who envisioned a one day public census of the killer
whales across B.C. During 1971 and 1972, Dr. Bigg advertised the census
through newspaper ads and radio broadcasts, and sent over 17,000
questionnaires to the boating public, asking for reports of killer
whales across the province, in Washington, Oregon, California and
Alaska. The public response was hugely successful. In 1971, over 550
questionnaires were returned and Dr. Bigg established an estimate of
approximately 550 killer whales from southeast Alaska to California; an
estimate that was proven to be highly accurate. The results put a
permanent end to the capture of killer whales in Canada and the U.S.

Since then, keen members of the public have continued to report
sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises as well as sea turtles in B.C.
to both the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo
and the Vancouver Aquarium. In 1999, the B.C. Cetacean Sightings
Network was established to keep these data in one place, and in a
consistent format that makes it valuable to researchers, NGOs and
government.

Wild Whales, the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, continues as a
collaborative effort of the Vancouver Aquarium and Fisheries and Oceans
Canada.

[Source: Wild Whales]

Web site: http://wildwhales.org