Magazine
Cetaceans that Light Up the Waters
Weeks of overcast weather have given way to sunny days, pink skies, and a St. Lawrence River whose colour shifts between cobalt blue and silver depending on the time of day. Impressive herds of belugas punctuate the Estuary in white and grey, a humpback whale visits the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence teems with marine life, with a group of killer whales (in French) making an incursion into the Basse-Côte-Nord region, not far from…
Field Notes
25 Years of Evolution and Passion in the Field
It was 1999, and my life was about to change. I had just completed my studies in biology and was…
On board the Bella Desgagnés, sighting of a North Atlantic right whale
By: Valérie Filion head of the interpreting department aboard the Bella Desgagnés for the Marine Mammal Observation Network (MMON) My…
Japan’s Ogasawara Islands: Expedition to Collect Cetacean Sounds and Images
There are many places around the world that lend themselves to watching whales, but some of them are unique. Last…
Field Report
Listening to Belugas by Hydrophone in Baie-Sainte-Marguerite
After several months of preparations, the Window on Belugas project has just reached a new milestone in Baie-Sainte-Marguerite thanks to…
A Rigorous Protocol for Studying Large Rorquals
Aboard the BpJAM (one of GREMM’s research vessels) with the Large Rorqual Project team, I scan the horizon in the…
Over the years…
July 7, 2025: It’s early in the morning, and I'm waiting for news from the research team. Will weather conditions…
Hot Topics
Round-up of 2025 North Atlantic Right Whale News
After being hunted for hundreds of years, the North Atlantic right whale currently faces a number of threats, including entanglements…
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…
Marine Mammal Emergencies
Beluga Mortality Report: 19 Carcasses Discovered in 2025
Between the start of 2026 and the release of this 2025 beluga mortality report, three carcasses have already been reported…
First Beluga Carcass of the Year Recovered in the Magdalen Islands
Sunday, January 18: The Marine Mammal Emergencies (UMM) telephone rings. Cédric Gascon, a technician and UMM responder for the past…
Beached Fin Whale: QMMERN Takes to the Field After Bp919 Found Stranded
On October 24, 2025, Marine Mammal Emergencies (UMM) received a call concerning a large dead whale stranded on the shores…
News
Amidst the Hum of the Engines
Around the clock, aquatic environments are naturally filled with a slew of different sounds: rain, waves, wind, swimming fish, stones…
Coexistence in Troubled Waters: A Participatory, Multi-Criteria Approach to Beluga Protection
By Maud Thermes, Irène Abi-Zeid, Nathalie Niquil, Franck Taillandier and Arnaud Sentis A majestic emblem of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence region,…
Peering into the Hidden World of Whales through Biopsies and Tagging!
Marine mammal research is fraught with challenges. Scientists must study massive animals that inhabit vast environments and spend most of…
Observations of the Week
Cetaceans that Light Up the Waters
Weeks of overcast weather have given way to sunny days, pink skies, and a St. Lawrence River whose colour shifts…
Porpoising and Disproportionate Blows
Atlantic white-sided dolphins made their first appearance of the season in the Gaspé Peninsula, while the black backs of large…
Swirling Foam in the Estuary
This week has been marked by fin whales showing off some impressive acrobatics, including breaches—a bold but rare behaviour for…
Whale Q&A
Your questions about beluga reproduction!
The Whale Watch team and the team of naturalists at the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) regularly receive questions about…
Why did so many large rorquals visit the St. Lawrence this spring?
Early 2025 was a particularly intense period for observing large rorquals in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. Whether it be…
A Smirk with a Purpose!
Belugas are known for their expressive faces, but what’s behind their endearing smirk? From an “O”-shaped mouth to water spitting…