West Coast Wild Whales

Begin your adventure with a splash! Whale watching and marine life adventure tours offer great opportunities to see rare and beautiful animals like killer whales, porpoises, dolphins and sea lions. Learn about low-impact whale watching and other ecotourism adventures on BC’s West Coast, as well as how you can contribute to local conservation efforts by reporting sightings of whales and dolphins.

Flying over the deep blue waters of the Strait of Georgia recently, Harbour Air passengers watched in delight as a pod of killer whales broke the surface in perfect unison. Although the sighting was fleeting, the passengers arrived at their destination flushed with the excitement of seeing these iconic animals, a symbol of the West Coast.

From the rugged outer coast to sheltered inlets and island archipelagos, British Columbia’s marine habitat supports a rich diversity of marine life, including A truly exciting experience. Witness a humpback whale
breaching. (Photo by John Ford)numerous species of whales, dolphins and porpoise. Many of these marine mammals spend most or all of their time in BC waters, including killer whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall’s porpoises, harbour porpoises and minke whales. Other species like humpback whales, grey whales and fin whales migrate through our coastal waterways in the summer, sometimes lingering into the winter months. Offshore, the deep waters of the North Pacific Ocean are home to many other species such as sperm whales, blue whales and oceanic dolphins.

Visitors and coastal residents alike thrill to the opportunity to spot marine mammals in West Coast waters. A spectacular breach from a humpback whale, the acrobatics of a dolphin, or an encounter with the iconic killer whale become stories recounted for years to come. Opportunities to view whales and other marine life abound in British Columbia, where a thriving ecotourism industry appeals to adventure travellers who take to the water for kayaking, sport fishing or whale watching.

Unfortunately, many species of whales and dolphins are threatened by human activities such as pollution, underwater noise and vessel traffic. In recent years, many whales have been spotted with scars from boat propellers or fishing gear. In one summer recently, a mature female and young calf killer whale were killed by speeding boats in separate incidents.

Responsible whale watchers stay at a safe distance from the whales (Photo by Tourism Vancouver/Tom Ryan)

Even watching whales may interfere with their normal activities such as hunting and resting. To ensure your whale watching excursion is low impact, ask whale watch companies about their guidelines and conservation ethics. All whale watchers and recreational boaters should slow down in the presence of whales, stay a minimum of 100 metres away, and avoid stopping in their path. Fishing guides and sport fishers can help by pulling their lines when killer whales are near, to prevent these intelligent animals from learning to steal fish from humans.

Happily, many West Coast boaters and whale watchers are becoming stewards of marine wildlife and are taking a keen interest in conservation. Everyone from lighthouse keepers to kayakers to families out for a day on the water are reporting their sightings of whales and dolphins to the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, enabling researchers and conservation experts to learn more about where important habitats occur. Recreational boaters and marinas are making efforts to protect our waters by joining the Green Boating Program. Beachwalkers are collecting garbage during the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. And at West Coast dining tables—from luxurious seaside resorts to local eateries—seafood lovers are choosing Ocean Wise dishes that reduce our impact on the world’s marine life. Whether you are a BC resident or just visiting this spectacular area, you can make a difference.

Wherever your destination along British Columbia’s coast, keep an eye out for whales and dolphins—your adventure could begin with a splash!