It's Not Just Whale Watching

"What's that in the water?"

"Is it a whale?"

"I think so!"

"It's a baby humpback whale next to its mother. But what's that next to the baby?"

A humpback whale and calf were feeding in Haro Straight when we noticed the baby playing next to something that could potentially be dangerous. Captain Nate did some careful maneuvering and I was able to make three separate hauls out of the sea to remove the debris.

Tangled in and disguised in a bed of kelp, these buoys and ropes were dangerously close to the frolicking calf.

Did you know that entanglement is the leading cause of death in cetaceans around the world? Over 100,000 dead marine mammals are reported annually around the globe - and these are just the ones we see.

In addition to garbage removal, we regularly engage in interactions with other boats, alerting them to the presence of whales in the area, as well as flagging them to slow down or move around and away from the whales. Occasionally we do pull into their path to stop them from proceeding dangerously. None of our guests ever mind halting their tour to assist in these protective measures.

We also report entanglements, injuries, distress and other issues of marine mammals to the appropriate networks to be addressed by professionals of that field. Unusual behaviors are documented and shared with researchers, who often do not have the resources to be everywhere at once out there. We also make reports of potential hazards for boaters, (i.e, divers or major debris in the water) and we assist other boaters in need.

It's not just whale watching. It's a lot of eyes on the water, making an impact to protect these beloved whales and all the other marine life that we adore.

Help us keep our waters safe!

Photos by Liberty