Magazine

Marine wildlife bounty for may
Our beloved river has recently been oscillating between mirror-calm waters and those stirred up by bone-chilling gusts. Pouring rain gives way to bright sunshine that warms the skin of the seals basking on the rocks. Belugas are settling into the river, a few minke whales have made brief visits, and fin whales continue their feeding runs all the way to Chaleur Bay.
Field Notes

California: Marine Life with Flair!
Last March, I had the opportunity to travel to Morro Bay, a small seaside village in central California. The sea…

Coastal Bird Monitoring in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park
By : Pierre-Alexandre Dumas, coécrit avec Eliza-Jane Morin It’s 8 a.m. and I'm joining my team at the Parks Canada office…

Field Notes: Whale Bone Hodgepodge!
This day off promises to be a special one. Together with Yael, another one of GREMM’s seasonal workers this year,…
Hot Topics

ROUND-UP OF 2024 NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE NEWS
After being hunted for centuries, today’s North Atlantic right whales face many challenges, including entanglements with fishing gear, ship strikes…

Round-up of 2023 North Atlantic Right Whale News
After being hunted for centuries, today’s North Atlantic right whales face many challenges, including entanglements with fishing gear, ship strikes…

All the news on North Atlantic right whales in 2022
The North Atlantic right whale is a particularly vulnerable cetacean species, currently numbering fewer than 350 individuals. The survival of…
Marine Mammal Emergencies

What can we learn from research on St. Lawrence seals?
On a beach along the St. Lawrence lies the carcass of a harbour seal. Standing out against the brownish seaweed…

Five Good Reasons to Leave Young Seals Alone
Over the past week, the presence of harp seal pups on the beaches of the Magdalen Islands and the Gaspé…

A 2024 Season Marked by Diversity
On both sides of the St. Lawrence, cetaceans and pinnipeds made the telephone lines of the Marine Mammal Emergency Centre…
News

First Hybrid Rorqual in the St. Lawrence
After arousing curiosity last summer in the estuary, a deceptively similar fin whale has once again been turning heads. By…

Blue Whales, Their Calves, and the Timing Hypothesis
Have you ever seen a blue whale? Although this giant of the oceans is found mostly in the high seas,…

After Centuries of Decline, Good News at Last for Monk Seals
Named for their vague resemblance to black-robed monks, these animals have always been unique. Indeed, the three similar-looking species that…
Observation of the Week

Marine wildlife bounty for may
Our beloved river has recently been oscillating between mirror-calm waters and those stirred up by bone-chilling gusts. Pouring rain gives…

Seals in the Spotlight
After numerous recent sightings of large rorquals, the time has come to turn the spotlight onto the seals! Harbour seals…

In the Wake of Fin Whales, Belugas, and Seals
Fin whales were well represented this week, as were belugas and seals. When they surface, some of these individuals have…
Whale Q&A

Killer Whales in the St. Lawrence
The last time killer whales were seen in Tadoussac was in 2003, though other sightings (article in French) are occasionally…

Cabinet of Curiosities: Unusual Whales!
The reason marine mammals fascinate us so much is that we are far from having unravelled all of their mysteries!…

Ambergris: The Secret Treasure of Sperm Whales
Ambergris, a mysterious treasure of the deep seas, has captivated the human imagination for centuries. This rare substance has crossed…