Magazine
Waters Stirred by Blowing Whales
The shores of the St. Lawrence are ablaze with orange and golden foliage. These multicoloured hues are reflected in the sometimes-calm, sometimes-choppy waters of our region. Autumn is quietly setting in, and with it, stiff winds and the start of the migration of multiple species of whales and birds alike! Enigmatic visitors slip through the Jacques-Cartier and Belle-Isle straits, while large pods of belugas have been roaming the estuary.
Field Notes
Listening to the Waters of Our Backyard
Written by Emily Fortin I was three years old the first time I visited Tadoussac. While I can’t claim to…
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…
Field Report
Protecting Whales, One Conversation at a Time
As the beluga calving season in the St. Lawrence enters into full swing, so too do public awareness efforts. For…
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…
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
Collisions in the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park (part 1/2)
Collisions are a major challenge in the recovery and protection of cetacean populations around the world. In the Saguenay–St. Lawrence…
Episode 5 Summary: Christophe Ronveaux
Christophe Ronveaux is a biologist with the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS). MICS mainly studies five species of large cetaceans:…
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…
Observations of the Week
Waters Stirred by Blowing Whales
The shores of the St. Lawrence are ablaze with orange and golden foliage. These multicoloured hues are reflected in the…
Côte-Nord: Prime Location for Autumn Whale Watching
Across Quebec, fall has truly arrived, as evidenced by the turning leaves and the arrival of certain marine mammal species…
Strong Winds, Big Whales
Despite the strong winds, fog, and plummeting air temperatures, marine animals of all kinds continue to roam the St. Lawrence.…
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…