Get Involved in Whale Conservation
Whalewatching outfitters can collaborate in any number of conservation projects. For example, they can volunteer for a marine mammal emergency network, make their watercraft available to technicians who carry out knowledge acquisition activities, or sign up for a citizen or opportunistic data collection program. These companies can also play a major role in marine mammal conservation by adopting responsible observation practices and educating their clientele on the importance of protecting these animals, especially species at risk.
Help collect data:
- Enter your citizen or opportunistic sightings on Vigie marine or using the data gathering protocol.
- Make your watercraft available to a technician to carry out population monitoring and scientific data collection through an organization such as the MMON, GREMM or Parks Canada.
- Learn how to report your right whale sightings to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
- Archive observation data collected in marine protected areas via the online data entry tool.
- Share your experiences with GREMM – Whale Portraits.
Adopt whale-friendly practices:
- If you operate a watercraft in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, consult the Eco-Whale Alliance’s best boating practices as well as how best to promote outdoor activities within the park.
- If you frequent other Canadian waters, refer instead to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations.
Educate the public:
- Join an interpretation program that raises public awareness in your region such as the one offered at the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park.
- Draw inspiration from international programs such as Responsible Whale Watching – World Cetacean Alliance .
- Use educational interpretation tools to support your conservation discourse by reaching out to organizations that offer tool kits (e.g. MMON, Parks Canada, etc.) – Link to tools under this program.
- Encourage your clientele to document their observations with the online citizen data entry tool.
Volunteer for a marine mammal emergency network or report a struggling animal:
- In Quebec, volunteer for the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN).
- In Newfoundland and Labrador, contact Whale Release and Strandings.
- In Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, contact the Marine Animal Response Society.
