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Mysteries of the Depths: Discover the Surprises Unearthed from the Seabed during Sediment Sampling in the Estuary

By Eliza-Jane Morin, Resource Management Officer, Parks Canada During the summer months, the Parks Canada conservation team in the Saguenay-St.…

|Field Notes 11/10/2023

Predator-Prey Monitoring: Incursion into the Food Chain of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

Once a week during the summer season, we carry out predator-prey monitoring in the lower estuary. The objective of this…

|Field Notes 10/10/2023

A Week on Gros-Cacouna Mountain

By Cristiane Albuquerque, ecologist and acting team lead at the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park I had the opportunity to spend…

|Field Notes 9/8/2023

A Day Aboard the Ciktek in Pursuit of the Harbour Seal

Today, June 21, 2023, is National Indigenous Peoples Day. I want to emphasize this, since I will be sailing on…

|Field Notes 19/7/2023

The Little Seal in Ragueneau

It’s late morning on Friday, June 2, when the phone rings. It’s the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN)…

|Field Notes 29/6/2023

Tale of a Migration to Mexico

Since 2019, I ‘ve been making an annual migration to Mexico for a few months each year, more precisely to…

|Field Notes 30/3/2023

A Brief Guide to Partial Necropsy

As part of a training course, my colleague and UMM technician Méduline Chailloux and I met on a Saturday morning…

|Field Notes 22/3/2023

A “GREMMlin” at IMPAC5

From February 3 to 9, the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress, IMPAC5, was held in Vancouver. The event was…

|Field Notes 8/3/2023

A day at the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network

Saturday, September 17: The weather is beautiful and the participants of the Béluga Ultra Trail (web page in French) race…

|Field Notes 2/2/2023

Teamwork for Whale Protection

Protecting the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park requires teamwork. Research makes it possible to better understand various issues related to the…

|Field Notes 25/10/2022

Fearful or Bold, Curious or Solitary… By Nature? Personality in Whales

The more time they spend watching and working with marine mammals, the more observers and scientists alike come to assume…

|Whale Q&A 13/10/2022

Recovery of a white-sided dolphin carcass in Rimouski

In the early afternoon of Monday, September 5, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network call centre receives a report…

|Field Notes 11/10/2022

Eyes on the water

Every summer since 2003, the Parks Canada team has been scrutinizing the waters in and around Baie Sainte-Marguerite to tally…

|Field Notes 6/10/2022

The Belugas of Cacouna

“Hey look! Over there! A beluga!” Posted on our observation platform on the sacred mountain of Gros-Cacouna, Sami and I…

|Field Notes 20/9/2022

Invasive Aquatic Species Project

The week of July 11 to 15 marked the second year of sampling for our project in collaboration with Fisheries…

|Field Notes 18/8/2022

Marine Observation Activities

Since 1994, sampling has been conducted on nearly 3,000 excursionsin the heart of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park by the…

|Field Notes 11/8/2022

Why is it important not to touch a marine mammal carcass?

By Marie-Maude Rondeau Ever heard of Valleau, the sperm whale whose carcass washed ashore in L’Anse-à-Valleau in 2003? Today, this…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/11/2021

With the mobile team… and a beluga carcass

By Marie-Maude Rondeau This summer, I’m working as a responder for the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN). I’m…

|Field Notes 15/9/2021

WITH THE BELUGAS… OUR FIRST FIELD SEASON ON GRANDE-ÎLE

By Jaclyn Aubin This summer, I was lucky enough to pass two weeks on the Grande-Île de Kamouraska, accompanied by…

|Field Notes 8/9/2021

Could one be eaten by a whale?

In the animated film Pinocchio, the famous puppet is swallowed by a whale, then lives in its belly for a…

|Whale Q&A 16/11/2020

Quiet Oceans: Has The Covid-19 Crisis Reduced Noise In Whale Habitats?

By Valeria Vergara, researcher with Ocean Wise’s Marine Mammal Conservation Research Program, specialist of acoustic communication in beluga whales and collaborator…

|Field Notes 16/4/2020

A Speckled Humpback… by Anik Boileau

By Anik Boileau, Veterinary Science Researcher and Director of CERSI With the arrival of fall in the Sept-Îles region, it’s…

|Field Notes 31/10/2019

With the belugas… and their blubber

By Valerie Jolicoeur, master student at UQAM This fall, I embarked on a major Master’s project that focuses on the…

|Field Notes 24/10/2019

Travelling “down south”… by Albert Michaud

By Albert Michaud This winter, I had the chance to leave Quebec and go “down South”. Not to the Caribbean…

|Field Notes 29/4/2019

1-877-7Baleine Still Active Throughout the Holidays!

Even if snow covers the shores of the St. Lawrence, Marine Mammal Emergencies continues its work. Throughout the winter, the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 20/12/2018

Whales on the Big Screen

The Whale Online team has compiled a list of its favourite films and TV series for a home theatre session with whale…

|News 14/12/2018

Thank you, Marine Mammal Emergencies volunteers!

On the occasion of International Volunteer Day (December 5), we would like to highlight the important contributions made by the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/12/2018

Mériscope: Overview of Minke Whales

A 23-foot orange Zodiac called Narval is used to approach minke whales. On board you will find the Mériscope crew,…

|News 2/11/2018

What do we know about harbour porpoises?

By Célia Barathier Harbour porpoises are the subject of very few studies in the St. Lawrence and are therefore much…

|Whale Q&A 16/10/2018

What Do Whales Do at Night?

By Chloé Vérité A curtain closes, night takes over the sky and during its quiet advance the frantic pace of…

|Whale Q&A 15/10/2018

What Good is Whale Poo?

By Célia Baratier In summer, whales find themselves in the St. Lawrence to stock up on food. Krill and fish…

|Whale Q&A 13/9/2018

Do hybrids exist in cetaceans?

By Célia Baratier This year once again, the research team aboard the BpJAM saw the narwhal! He seems to have…

|Whale Q&A 29/8/2018

“Mom, can you hear me?” season #2

By Valeria Vergara and Marie-Ana Mikus (guest researchers from Ocean Wise Conservation Association) Time flies on the beluga research tower…

|Field Notes 2/8/2018

Back at the tower: a second season in Baie-Sainte-Marguerite

By Jaclyn Aubin Last Saturday, as I hauled myself up onto the platform of the tower, I felt a flutter…

|Field Notes 10/7/2018

Can Whales Be Deaf or Blind?

By Célia Baratier Sound travels much faster through water than through air. Whales have taken advantage of this phenomenon thanks…

|Whale Q&A 22/6/2018

A Summer School on Animal Cognition

Are fishes sentient? Do squid have a sense of self? Who are dolphins and can they be considered as nonhuman…

|News 5/6/2018

Never before seen footage of fin whale feeding behavior

By François Vachon The scientific team from EDMAKTUB filmed unprecedented images of fin whales surface feeding off the coast of…

|News 25/4/2018

Federal government announces new protective measures for right whales

By François Vachon The year 2017 was a particularly grim year for right whales. A total of 17 carcasses were…

|News 3/4/2018

How can a live stranded whale die of asphyxiation?

By François Vachon Ocean water exerts pressure that allows cetaceans to support their mass. Animals such as fin whales and…

|Whale Q&A 28/3/2018

Youth Programs for Environmental and Conservation Awareness

Are you interested in a career focused on the environment, wildlife conservation and awareness of your country's natural heritage? A…

|News 24/1/2018

Have Whales Ever Gotten Trapped by the Ice in the St. Lawrence Estuary?

By François Vachon To date, no such incident has ever been recorded within the boundaries of the St. Lawrence Estuary.…

|Whale Q&A 17/1/2018
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Gifts that keep on giving!

By Stéphanie Tremblay The holiday season is fast approaching! With it comes the conundrum of brainstorming for gift ideas. That…

|News 6/12/2017

Do whales use tools?

By Stéphanie Tremblay This week, a video was swirling around several social media in which a male dolphin could be…

|Whale Q&A 28/11/2017

How do we measure the length of a whale?

By Stéphanie Tremblay When we see a whale from shore, or even from a boat, it looks quite small. Even…

|Whale Q&A 1/11/2017

Are the pilot whales of the St. Lawrence the same as those in the Caribbean?

By Stéphanie Tremblay The differences between certain species are sometimes so imperceptible that they may be mistaken for one another.…

|Whale Q&A 17/10/2017

At what age do female belugas stop having offspring?

By Stéphanie Tremblay Female belugas reach sexual maturity between the ages of 8 and 14 and can live between 60…

|Whale Q&A 4/10/2017

Do whales go into heat?

By Stéphanie Tremblay Anyone can recognize a cat in heat, but what about a whale? With the human eye, this…

|Whale Q&A 26/9/2017

Do whales drink salt water?

By Sonia Villalon Despite a few exceptions, pinnipeds and cetaceans do not usually drink. In most cases, water is supplied…

|Whale Q&A 19/9/2017

Movement of Prey Conditions that of Whales

By Sonia Villalon A text from Sonia Villalon Every species has its preferences in terms of prey and this week's…

|Observation of the Week 13/9/2017

What is this beluga doing with this piece of wood?

By Maureen Jouglain In this video taken in the summer of 2016 off the land-based Pointe-Noire Interpretation and Observation Centre,…

|Whale Q&A 24/8/2017

Whales, death and mourning

By Maureen Jouglain An understanding of death and reaction to the loss of a loved one are generally considered to…

|News 22/8/2017

Narwhal Still Amongst St. Lawrence Belugas

At a time when identity and immigration issues are tormenting Quebec and the rest of the planet, a fresh wind…

|Observation of the Week 21/8/2017

Is Montréal’s and Québec City’s wastewater having an impact on whales?

By Maureen Jouglain The Montréal region alone produces 2/3 of the wastewater in Quebec. The province's second most densely populated…

|Whale Q&A 16/8/2017

Studying Gannets to better understand the feeding activities of whales

A text from Sonia Villalon The monitoring of northern gannet populations (Morus bassanus) is of particular interest for understanding changes…

|News 14/8/2017

On the path of the blue whale: from the St-Lawrence to the United States

By Maureen Jouglain A study published in July 2017 in the journal Endangered Species Research presents the first records of…

|News 3/8/2017

Are sonars used to locate whales?

By Maureen Jouglain From the inflatable boat to the large ferry, every whale-watching boat is equipped with a radar and…

|Whale Q&A 27/7/2017

Good navigation practices for Beluga conservation

In this beluga calving season, Fisheries and Oceans Canada's "Show you care, keep your distance!" awareness campaign reminds us of…

|News 25/7/2017

How can a beluga survive out of water?

By Maureen Jouglain The rescue operation of the beluga trapped in the Nepisiguit River, New Brunswick, raised the question: how…

|Whale Q&A 6/7/2017

Mark your calendar: Talk “Where everything revolved around whales”

An invitation to travel through "Whale Civilization" The kick-off for summer talks has finally arrived! For the first gathering of…

|News 4/7/2017

What is the function of the callosities in right whales?

By Sonia Villalon The callosities in right whales are irregular patches of thickened and keratinized tissues. These tissues are habitat…

|Whale Q&A 29/6/2017

Supporting Research, one Raspberry Blanche at a Time

Is it possible to drink beer and support St. Lawrence beluga research at the same time? Yes, thanks to Les…

|News 19/6/2017

Who are these minke whales?

By Mériscope October 23, 2016: last trip out to sea. The 6th season of photo-identifying St. Lawrence minke whales is…

|Field Notes 17/11/2016

“No Maritime Strategy without a Beluga Strategy” Warn Nature Québec and CPAWS Quebec

At a press conference on November 1, 2016, Nature Québec and CPAWS Quebec call for a beluga strategy in response…

|News 1/11/2016

Small Whales in Big Numbers!

By Olivia Capeillere Since the beginning of fall, large rorquals have been everywhere along the St. Lawrence Estuary, but this…

|Observation of the Week 20/10/2016

Ending the Season with a Bang

It's getting colder offshore; the season is drawing to a close. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful, with regard to both…

|Observation of the Week 16/10/2016

Birds and humpbacks galore!

By Olivia Capeillere As we enter into early fall, observers everywhere along the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf have been…

|Observation of the Week 8/10/2016

Pleasant Surprises at Season’s End

By Olivia Capeillere Autumn has truly arrived. Offshore, chilly temps are on the menu and so are the whales! Blue…

|Observation of the Week 29/9/2016

How is climate change affecting whales?

By Olivia Capeillere Several studies support the hypothesis that climate change will have negative impacts on whales. Three main impacts…

|Whale Q&A 20/9/2016

Renowned Blue Whales… by Jaclyn Aubin

Today I would like to share a particularly phenomenal cruise that I had the chance to take. Arriving at our…

|Field Notes 9/9/2016

The Almost Mythical Blue Whale… by Audrey Tawel-Thibert

More than ten years ago, I first laid eyes on the largest animal that Earth has ever seen: the blue…

|Field Notes 6/9/2016

Encounter with a Gray Seal… by Jaclyn Aubin

In recent weeks, it seems impossible to go out on the water without seeing at least a hundred or so…

|Field Notes 15/8/2016

The Famous Breach of the Humpback… by Audrey Tawel-Thibert

The morning of August 5 is a difficult one out on the water. Shooting photos from a small Zodiac is…

|Field Notes 7/8/2016
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Can whales survive in fresh water?

Cetaceans are marine mammals, which are adapted to living in the salt waters of the various seas and oceans of…

|Whale Q&A 30/7/2016

Spectacular Diversity… by Jaclyn Aubin

It is often said that the St. Lawrence is a smorgasbord for whales. Indeed, the river has several characteristics that…

|Field Notes 21/7/2016

Do Sperm Whales have any Predators?… by Olivia Capeillere

Toothed whales are generally much smaller than baleen whales. However, the sperm whale is a toothed whale that can grow…

|Whale Q&A 20/7/2016

Amazing Fin Whales… by Jaclyn Aubin

Despite several days of adverse conditions, last week proved to be very conducive for observing fin whales in the Marine…

|Field Notes 14/7/2016

Flame Retardants in St. Lawrence Whales

[caption id="attachment_20043" align="alignright" width="250"] L'équipe du Mériscope © Mériscope[/caption] The Mériscope team is excited. This is the beginning of the…

|News 14/7/2016

What kind of whaling was practised in the St. Lawrence?

Well before the arrival of the first Europeans, the Iroquois practised traditional whaling in the St. Lawrence River. Archaeological studies…

|Whale Q&A 9/7/2016

Are Atlantic Gray Whales Really Extinct?

Today only three populations of gray whales are found in the Pacific Ocean. The North Atlantic population was extirpated in…

|Whale Q&A 30/6/2016

Why are whales important? Why should we protect them?

The Whales Online team asked these questions to researchers who dedicate their time and energy studying the whales of the…

|Whale Q&A 29/2/2016

Cap sur les baleines, Episode 4: Olivia Capeillere

Olivia Capeillere crossed the Atlantic to follow her passion for the titans that inhabit the St. Lawrence. As a naturalist…

|News 2/10/2015

In the St. Lawrence: a Scene that Changes by the Hour

My expectations are low as I leave the Tadoussac wharf on the morning of September 9, a heavy blanket of…

|Field Notes 17/9/2015

Cap sur les baleines, Episode 3: Simon Gauthier

Professional storyteller Simon Gauthier pounds the pavement, his backpack chock full of tales, baleinophone in hand. The pioneer of whale…

|News 9/9/2015

Cap sur les baleines, Episode 2: Marie Guilpin

Marie Guilpin crossed the Atlantic to study the whales of the St. Lawrence. As a Ph.D. student in oceanography in…

|News 2/9/2015

Cap sur les baleines, Episode 1: Hugues Durocher

Hugues Durocher was literally born on the river. The son of a lighthouse keeper, his life has evolved with the…

|News 20/8/2015