BpJAM in Action: A Preparation as Massive as the Animals Being Studied!

This monitoring focuses on large rorqual populations in the St. Lawrence Estuary, namelyhumpback, blue and fin whales, and is carried out in parallel to similar projects, such as the ones conducted by MICS. The presence (or absence) of these marine mammals has been tracked since the mid-1980s. This process yields a treasure trove of data that are used for monitoring the status of different whale populations, such as the number of individuals and their approximate location in the estuary.

GREMM uses horizontal photographs for photo-identification, which consists of identifying distinctive features in certain individuals to determine their identity. Since 2018, aerial photos and videos of these enormous marine mammals have also been taken by drone. If the sea is calm and the animals are visible through the clear water, the photos can be used for both photo-identification and photogrammetry!

On a typical day, scans are taken of 14 GPS points distributed across the estuary. Specific parameters are collected with each scan: wind, waves, visibility, presence of other boats, etc. Simultaneously, a 10-minute search for whales begins, binoculars in hand and ears on alert. If an individual shows its blowhole or dorsal fin, the drone is launched almost immediately while the team steers the BpJAM to capture horizontal photos.

In nine hours on the water, the team saw two individuals: Gaspar (H626), recognizable by her single tail fluke, and a fin whale (Bp959) that was identified afterwards. © GREMM

The equipment needed for the day must also be prepared and checked. Numerous electronic devices must be fully charged. After all, a drone or camera without a battery is useless! And let’s not forget the iPad for data entry, a voice recorder, the drone remote, fuel in the boat… Organization is key! Enough food to last the day also needs to be prepared. If the whales are cooperative, it’s not uncommon for the team to spend 12 hours on the water! On these long days, preparations for the next day’s trip are done right on the boat.

Before even leaving home, everyone checks their messages. 6 a.m.: too much fog… Let’s wait till 7. At 7, Laurence heads to the Tadoussac dunes (article in French) for a better view of the river: still too much fog; let’s check back again in 30 minutes. All this back-and-forth continued until about 10, when we finally decided to take a chance and head out. A mid-morning departure wasn’t ideal because it inevitably meant the day would end later than planned… And I should remind you that the team has been up since 5:30!

Back at the docks, we were finally able to return to the CIMM to pack up our gear, charge our batteries, and compile the day’s data. The whole team felt a sense of relief: The day was finally over.

Seeing the team in action provides a clearer understanding of GREMM’s research outings on the water. While results are essential for us to continue our mission of furthering our knowledge about these marine mammals and educating the public, many things must be in place to ensure the success of these trips and collect meaningful data. After a day like this, it might be tempting to rest, but the team will be back on the water the next day… weather permitting!