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July 29, 2026
We are proud to announce that Prince of Whales is supporting Ocean Wise’s 2026 fieldwork in the Salish Sea and Johnstone Strait with a $20,000 donation this July.
Continuing its ongoing efforts to protect at-risk whale populations in British Columbia (BC), Ocean Wise will travel the length of the province’s coastline to monitor killer whales, humpback whales, and grey whales in support of improved conservation and management measures. The research will investigate the factors influencing individual body condition and pregnancy rates, identify what whales are eating and where they are feeding, and examine the demographics of the individuals utilizing key habitats.
Beginning this summer, Ocean Wise will conduct fieldwork throughout the Salish Sea and off northern Vancouver Island before continuing north along the Central and North Coasts of BC. The team will then return to the Salish Sea to continue its annual winter monitoring program, documenting seasonal whale occurrence and habitat use.
Throughout the field season, Ocean Wise researchers will document whale sightings to better understand population distribution and habitat utilization, use drones to collect aerial imagery for body condition and pregnancy assessments, and collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples to investigate the genetics and health of individual whales while also identifying prey species present in the surrounding environment. To support immediate conservation actions, whale sightings will be submitted in real time through the Whale Report App, generating alerts for nearby mariners to reduce the risk of vessel strikes and disturbance.
Using these minimally invasive sampling techniques, the project will generate critical information on whale health, population genetics, habitat use, diet, and movement patterns. Together, these data will improve our understanding of whale populations throughout BC, identify the environmental and ecological factors most influential to their health, and inform conservation measures to better protect the habitats they rely on.
“We are thrilled to enter our fourth year supporting Ocean Wise’s fieldwork research. While the whale watching industry contributes masses of identification and data to research, our industry does not span the entire coastline, and our presence on the water is limited in the winter months.
Ocean Wise’s fieldwork serves to fill that gap, and provide much needed insight into the health of Southern Resident killer whales, Northern Resident killer whales, Bigg’s killer whales, humpback whales, and grey whales. Our partnership with Ocean Wise reflects our commitment to funding field research that is delivering invaluable data used for determining protective measures and habitat management planning. We are proud to see Ocean Wise continue their collaborations with marine industries, including members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, to combine efforts, data, and expertise to advance critical whale conservation. Every sighting and sample collected contributes directly to the vital science needed to protect these iconic species and drive their long-term population recovery for generations to come.
Looking forward, we hope the federal government will follow our industry’s lead and increase funding to support critical research for at-risk marine populations in BC..” – Elspeth McGillivray, Owner & President, Prince of Whales, North Island Kayak, and Sea Vancouver
Ocean Wise’s whale research is conducted under a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Marine Mammal License.
