Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea photo identification catalogues
Why Keep Track of Humpback Whales?
As Humpback Whales return to their former range after exploitation by commercial whaling, we have much to learn about them as individuals and as a population. Being able to recognize individuals allows us to learn about their life histories which includes: how and where they are feeding, where they migrate, their social associations, and how the are impacted by human activity such as entanglement in fishing gear.
BCY0324 (Big Mama) Photo: Gary Sutton
Salish Sea Photo Identification and Sightings Database
In support of ongoing and future research questions, we maintain a database of each Humpback Whale sighting photo identified in the Salish Sea, which allows for detailed sightings histories for each individual, including behavioural observations, prey data, and known associations between individuals.
Recording and identifying individual whales is the core of what we do. Humpback Whales can be identified by the unique markings on their flukes, dorsal fin, and other features such as tubercle pattern and pectoral flipper markings. To date, we have photographed and identified over 1000 individual Humpback Whales in the Salish Sea and western entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait. Our cataloguing efforts allows researchers to track the whales long term, and collect detail about their life histories.
We publish updated photo ID catalogues every other year for the public to use and enjoy.
BCZ0298 (Split Fin) in Juan de Fuca Strait. Photo: Mark Malleson
The Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration
Our localized efforts to document Humpback Whales in the Salish Sea feeds into the wider effort of understanding these whales on a larger scale. We work with other Humpback researches in the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration (CPHC), which is coast-wide effort to maintain a centralized catalogue and database of Humpback Whales. This project is an important tool for conservation as it allows for deeper understanding of population size and structure, and is an essential for further research on Humpback Whale behaviour along B.C.’s coast.
BCY0524 (Trident) tail lobbing. Photo: Mark Malleson
Contribute to the project
We are thankful for the photo contributions made by researchers, naturalists, captains, and the general public.
To contribute photos to this project and help us to better understand and conserve the Humpback Whales within the Salish Sea, please relay photos to salishseahumpbacks@gmail.com along with the date and location of the sighting, and any relevant details such as interactions with other Humpbacks.
When observing and photographing Humpback Whales, please maintain a distance of at least 100 m and slow vessel to less than 7 knots when you are within 1000 m to reduce disturbance.