The month of August has seen an uptick in whale and dolphin sightings and activity in the qathet region.
The most recent sighting of a dolphin pod was in Seymour Narrows, by Frederick Arm. Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWS) director Susan McKay confirmed that they were spotted by Stuart Island, but could not confirm as to whether they were Dahl's porpoises or white-sided dolphins.
McKay encourages people to report sightings to WOWS. The group has volunteers who collect the data and have created a real time sightings map of cetacean sightings.
Pacific white-sided dolphins were reported in early August to be
foraging at the entrance to the north Westview Harbour, in the Malaspina Strait, and humpback whales were reported to be seen in Malaspina Strait and near Texada Island on August 15.
Tour guide and boat captain with Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours Garry Henkel, reported seeing northern resident killer whales (orcas) heading south between Rendezvous Islands and Read Island, Sutil Channel, on August 11 and August 12.
Check out the interactive sighting map at wildoceanwhale.org/SightingApps/SightingsMap/SightingsMap.html?issue=2024-014. To report a sighting go to, wildoceanwhale.org/report.
WOWS has as a reminder on its website: If boating and out on the water, be aware of the presence of whales and dolphins. Signs of their presence may include blows of the cetaceans and other boats stopped or moving slowly in an area. Boats and other watercraft must remain at least 400 metres away from orca and at least 100 metres away from other species.
Join the Peak’s email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
