Magazine
Minke Whale Calf
Side by side, two minke whales swim off Pointe Noire near the town of Baie-Sainte-Catherine. One of them is clearly smaller than the other. A mother and her calf? Could be! According to researcher, minke whale specialist and Mériscope director Dany Zbinden, “In the past four years we have seen a significant number of juvenile minke whales in the Estuary.” This is quite surprising, as it had previously been thought that female minke whales accompanied and nursed their calves for…
Field Notes
Exciting Observation that Sparks Bad Memories
On February 19, a senior officer of a cargo ship passing through the St. Lawrence Estuary photographed blue whales off…
With the Belugas… Seen and Measured from the Sky!
By Alexandre Bernier-Graveline and Mathieu Marzelière For GREMM’s research team, winter is usually synonymous with compiling, processing and analyzing images…
With the Belugas… Season Ends with First Snow
Field notes written in collaboration with Laurence Tremblay A field season full of surprises is coming to an end for…
Hot Topics
GNL Québec: BAPE Commissioners Concerned for Beluga
Quebec's environmental assessment agency, the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE), which has been tasked with evaluating the Énergie Saguenay…
What’s happening with North Atlantic right whales in 2021?
With a total population estimated to number fewer than 360 individuals, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the…
North Atlantic Right Whale Protection Measures Maintained
The Government of Canada has just announced what measures will be taken this year to protect North Atlantic right whales…
Marine Mammal Emergencies
Resting, Pupping and Moulting: The Importance of Getting Out of the Water for Seals
Even if they are marine mammals, seals have to return to land for some of their activities. Amphibious in nature,…
First Beluga Carcass of 2021 Found in Tadoussac
On March 27, a beluga carcass was discovered in Tadoussac by an individual who was out for a stroll. The…
Seals Invade the Shorelines
Now that the ice has receded from the St. Lawrence, seals must find new platforms out of the water to…
News
Recognizing the culture of whales in order to better protect them
If we truly want to protect whales – and other species as well for that matter – biologists must understand…
“Secrets of the Whales”: Diving Deeper after Watching the Series
They love. They mourn. They play. They share. Whales live in complex societies, each with its own culture. This is…
United Nations Kicks off Decade of the Oceans
When the United Nations launches a theme, it’s not merely symbolic. From 2021 to 2030, the theme will be the…
Observation of the Week
Minke Whale Calf
Side by side, two minke whales swim off Pointe Noire near the town of Baie-Sainte-Catherine. One of them is clearly…
Porpoises, Already!
Porpoises are usually expected in these parts beginning in late June. But this year, at least two harbour porpoises have…
Under the Bellies of Cetaceans, Under the Fur of Seals
On April 15, a seasonal resident of Pointe-des-Monts takes advantage of the mild weather in April to open his chalet…
Whale Q&A
Do whales fart?
Judging by the search engines, the question has created quite a buzz: are whales capable of emitting flatulence, gas... in…
Does the limited amount of ice on the St. Lawrence affect the seal species that spend the winter there?
This year, the decline in ice cover on the St. Lawrence, a trend that began a few decades ago, is…
How does a collision affect a cetacean’s social life?
When discussing the impacts of an accident between a ship and a marine mammal, we generally focus on the physical…