Hope for the Humpbacks
Humpback whale populations have been dramatically reduced by whaling practices and pollution off of the West Coast.
In Canada, the hunting of whales was banned in 1967, after humpback whales were hunted globally to the brink of extinction. In 1982, the international whaling commission placed a global moratorium on hunting of all whales - this remains in place today.
In 2008, the first humpback whale was spotted in Átl'ka7tsem Howe Sound after nearly 100 years of absence. Since 2008, humpback whales have continued to return to Howe Sound and the Salish Sea in growing numbers each year; in 2022 there were 396 humpback whale sightings, the highest number of documented sightings in the past century.
The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association would like to support the acquisition of scientific information regarding humpback whale numbers to support local governments in making informed conservation practices, and to support literature on the success of humpback whale returns.
In this Section
What we are doing!
We have partnered with local Vancouver film maker, Jonah Lee-McNamee, and marine zoologist, Rachel Baker, to create a short film called Hope for the Humpbacks. In this film, we will explore the downfall and recovery of the humpback whale population in the Salish Sea.
Our film seeks to capture the heartwarming journey of humpback whales, showcasing their resilience from decline to recovery; we will engage with voices from the community including Indigenous knowledge holders, scientists, activists, and more. By creating a whale research documentary and exploring Desolation Sound, a remote body of water with little biodiversity documentation, we will document and highlight this actively progressing example of nature’s ability to recover. This project aims to encourage hope for our planet and spread awareness of measures of action citizens can take to protect the natural world around us.
If you are interested in sponsoring our short film, please contribute at your earliest convenience using the DONATE NOW button, or using the form! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to oceans@thescca.ca
How You Can Help
You can help! If you see a humpback whale, you can record this helpful information and share it with us:
- date of sighting
- approximate location (closest beach or landmark)
- number of humpback whales
- direction of travel (if you can tell)
- any distinguishable behavior (fin slapping, breaching, feeding, etc)
- photos or videos, which can be used for individual identification of the whale(s) using their fluke (tail)
How this Information Helps
By collecting whale sightings information, we can better understand migratory patterns of humpback whales; these whales return to coastal BC in the summer months from their winter breeding grounds off Hawaii and Mexico.
How will this Information be Used?
Any information provided will be sent to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for entry into the national database to help better inform government on proper conservation and protection measures.
Want more information on Humpback Whales in the Salish Sea?
Contact us at oceans@thescca.ca to learn more about humpback whale recovery, migratory patterns, behaviours, and where to spot them!
Read this article (PDF) about whales and whalers in the Salish Sea.
