Prince of Whales Contributes $55,000 to support Center for Whale Research’s Fieldwork

 Prince of Whales Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventures is proud to contribute $55,000 in support of the Center for Whale Research’s vital killer whale field research in the Salish Sea.

The partnership is especially meaningful to Prince of Whales because of lead skipper Mark Malleson, who also works as a Field Biologist with the Center for Whale Research. Celebrating more than 30 years with Prince of Whales, Mark brings a lifelong passion for wildlife to everything he does on the water. 

After spending the day leading tours as a Zodiac skipper, he can often be found heading back out aboard Mike 1, his research vessel, to continue his important fieldwork. Prince of Whales’ investment has helped repower Mike 1 with new outboard motors and provide fuel for field operations. Mike 1 is named after the legendary Michael ‘Mike’ Bigg, a marine biologist who was instrumental in developing modern killer whale identification and research.

As a Field Biologist with the Center for Whale Research, Mark contributes to decades of research documenting killer whales, their families, movements, behaviour and health. Throughout his years of dedicated field research, Mark has documented countless significant moments in the lives of Salish Sea whales, from being the first to document the now iconic humpback, Big Mama, to witnessing and recording the births of numerous J Pod calves.

“We are enormously grateful to Prince of Whales for their generous support of Mark’s fieldwork over so many years. Their investment in repowering Mike 1, a key research vessel, will make a lasting difference to our work studying the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Mark’s data collection is a key part of our long-running Orca Survey programme, and the continued support of Prince of Whales helps make this important research possible.”

— Darren Croft, Executive Director, Center for Whale Research

Founded in 1976, the Center for Whale Research has spent 50 years studying the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. Its research has created the longest-running dataset on Southern Resident behaviour, health and social dynamics. The organization conducts an annual census, regular health assessments and on-the-water research, made possible through the generous support of individuals, foundations, organizations and partners from across the region and around the world.

Through its Conservation Fund, Prince of Whales dedicates a portion of every tour sale to supporting marine research, conservation and education initiatives throughout British Columbia. This October’s $55,000 investment in the killer whale research vessel Mike 1 continues that commitment, supporting critical fieldwork that Mark undertakes in Canadian waters for the Center for Whale Research. 

The investment will directly support the Center’s continued fieldwork, helping researchers spend more time on the water collecting the long-term data essential to understanding and protecting killer whales.

“Our company is proud to continue supporting and investing in the CWR and their field team research efforts. We take great pride in seeing Mark lead research efforts in the Salish Sea. His knowledge is shared not only among our team of naturalists and captains but also with the entire industry and the thousands of guests who join whale watching tours every year. The CWR is one of four organizations we contributed to in 2026 that conduct vessel-based research and population monitoring. The work done on the water, both photo identification and other non-invasive research methods, is paramount in understanding and protecting the marine mammals we are so fortunate to witness in our coastal waters.”

— Elspeth McGillivray, Owner, Prince of Whales, North Island Kayak and Sea Vancouver