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The reasons behind an exceptional year for humpback

“First time ever,” “extraordinary,” “record...” After a while, observers describing the 2021 whale-watching season in the estuary began to run…

|News 24/5/2023

Encounter with Pilot Whales

Do pilot whales impatiently look forward to spring just to cross paths with amateur cetologist René Roy? One thing is…

|Observation of the Week 26/5/2022

Struggling Right Whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

For over a week now, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been attempting to locate a North Atlantic right whale…

|News 26/5/2022

White Tails and Brown Calves

Small white backs speckled the St. Lawrence with their presence this week. Thursday, May 12, at the ferry terminal in…

|Observation of the Week 19/5/2022

Minke whale updates

This page is dedicated to the presence of two minke whales in the waters of Montreal. It is updated several…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/5/2022

Minke Whales in Montreal – Your Questions

Two minke whales have been observed in Montreal, near St. Helen's Island. The first individual has been in the area…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/5/2022

Like a polar bear in Gaspésie…

This week, the most amazing marine mammal sighting is undoubtedly the presence of a polar bear in the Gaspé Peninsula.…

|Observation of the Week 5/5/2022

First Beluga Carcass Discovered in Les Escoumins

This is the first beluga whale carcass recovered for the 2022 season under the carcass recovery program initiated in 1983.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/4/2022

Return of the Minke Whales

They may be the smallest representatives of the rorqual family, but minke whales have been getting a lot of attention…

|Observation of the Week 28/4/2022

Mortality 2021: An Ominous Year for Belugas

2021 will be no exception. Once again, researchers and specialists are concerned by the mortalities being observed in the St.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/4/2022

A little head poking above the water

When the north winds quiet down, the surface of the St. Lawrence ends up looking like a mirror, frozen solid…

|Observation of the Week 17/2/2022

Winter Doldrums

No backs, no spouts, not even the shadow of a tail. Zero, zip, zilch. “No whales this week,” a number…

|Observation of the Week 3/2/2022

Lament of the seals

“Cré-moé, cré-moé pas, quelque part en Alaska, y a un phoque qui s'ennuie en maudit” (Believe it or not, somewhere…

|Observation of the Week 6/1/2022

Colorful Bubbling at Sea

Friday morning, from the top of the dunes in Tadoussac, an avid birder spots some splashing in the middle of…

|Observation of the Week 25/11/2021

Singing seals

“It’s been a quiet week for whales,” admits a resident of Percé, “but grey seals have been abundant. From our…

|Observation of the Week 16/11/2021

Chorus of Seals on the Rocks

On this Thanksgiving Monday afternoon, a group of kayakers is quietly paddling toward the dock at L'Anse-de-Roche when they hear…

|Observation of the Week 14/10/2021

A Question of Identity

A narwhal that thinks it’s a beluga, unidentifiable humpbacks and minke whales in search of recognition. This week, the whales…

|Observation of the Week 2/9/2021

Life in Blue!

This week, we were able to admire the milky blue of a mist-laden sky, the dark bluish-black waters of the…

|Observation of the Week 26/8/2021

Siam, Tic Tac Toe, Cédille and co.

This week in the St. Lawrence was rich in sightings both magical and emotional: the return of Siam to the…

|Observation of the Week 19/8/2021

Whales Aplenty!

“It’s awesome out there! There are humpbacks, fins, minkes... It’s non-stop!” exclaims photographer Renaud Pintiaux. At high tide in the…

|Observation of the Week 13/8/2021

North Atlantic Right Whales: Shrinking Giants!

We’ve known that North Atlantic right whales are less and less abundant, with a population currently estimated to number fewer…

|News 5/8/2021

The Magic of Dawn and Dusk

It was a bountiful week on the St. Lawrence this week, with spectacular marine mammal viewing to locals and visitors…

|Observation of the Week 5/8/2021

Here one day, gone the next!

Season after season, tide after tide, the St. Lawrence River is like a beating heart. Marine currents, prey availability, and…

|Observation of the Week 29/7/2021

Keeping one’s distance to keep them safe

Whether you’re on the shores of the St. Lawrence or sailing in its waters, there’s always a chance for a…

|Observation of the Week 22/7/2021

Ode to the next generation, the deformed and seafaring nomads

The sun is setting over the beach in Les Bergeronnes and the sky is a palette of pinkish hues. With…

|Observation of the Week 15/7/2021
MN

“It’s Alive Out There!”

Porpoises, seals, sharks, small fish and seabirds... even when big blasts are conspicuous by their absence, the St. Lawrence remains…

|Observation of the Week 9/7/2021

Frozen Moments in the Mist

“It’s tough to find a good weather window this week!” rants René Roy, collaborator for the Mingan Island Cetacean Study…

|Observation of the Week 1/7/2021

Creatures of Habit

Wednesday morning, just as the team from the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) begins its workday, time stands still for…

|Observation of the Week 25/6/2021

Familiar Markings and Tail Slaps in the Water

As I’m driving down Highway 132, my eye is suddenly drawn out to sea. From the dark, rolling water spews…

|Observation of the Week 21/6/2021

Dinner is served!

“The capelin are rolling like crazy here in the Gaspé,” says one observer. “At least ten humpbacks have been tallied…

|Observation of the Week 10/6/2021

On the lookout for big blasts

Friday, May 28: It’s barely the crack of dawn on the dunes of Tadoussac when Laetitia from the Tadoussac Bird…

|Observation of the Week 3/6/2021

Baby Seals and Solitary Belugas

While some observers, with their eyes glued to the water, are thrilled to see the white backs of belugas and…

|Observation of the Week 27/5/2021

Minke whales putting on a show!

While large whales are still mostly absent in the St. Lawrence, minke whales are taking the opportunity to steel the…

|Observation of the Week 21/5/2021

Right Whale Disentanglement in New Brunswick

On Tuesday, May 11, a major release operation was attempted to come to the aid of Snow Cone, a North…

|News 14/5/2021
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Belugas’ Age Written in Their Skin

Determining the age of a wild beluga is quite a challenge. So when American researchers announce that they are developing…

|News 13/5/2021

Do whales fart?

Judging by the search engines, the question has created quite a buzz: are whales capable of emitting flatulence, gas... in…

|Whale Q&A 15/4/2021

What’s happening with North Atlantic right whales in 2021?

With a total population estimated to number fewer than 350 individuals, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the…

|Hot Topics 5/3/2021

Two New Right Whale Mortalities

In the span of just a few weeks, two North Atlantic right whale carcasses were discovered off the coast of…

|News 5/3/2021

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…

|Hot Topics 18/2/2021

North Atlantic Right Whale Births Give Cause for Hope

The breeding season for North Atlantic right whales is in full swing. As of January 22, 2021, 17 healthy calves…

|News 20/1/2021

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…

|Whale Q&A 19/1/2021

Five Promising Initiatives to Prevent Collisions with Whales

Imagine that your dining room, your bedroom and your child’s day care were constantly being driven through by high-speed vehicles.…

|News 5/1/2021

Voluntarily Lowering One’s Heart Rate to Dive Safely

Because they live in water and must constantly dive to forage or to move, cetaceans have developed a great number…

|News 3/12/2020

Is inbreeding a problem for endangered whales?

There are believed to be around 360 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, and probably fewer than a…

|Whale Q&A 26/11/2020

Do whales produce saliva?

As we know, whales are big eaters and can detect their prey from afar, some species thanks to their sense…

|Whale Q&A 13/11/2020

Just 356 North Atlantic right whales left!

Until recently, researchers still spoke of a population of some 400 North Atlantic right whales. But new estimates released last…

|News 5/11/2020

What is the impact of offshore drilling on whales?

While three oil drilling projects off the coast of Newfoundland are being fast-tracked by the Canadian government, one faithful reader…

|Whale Q&A 22/10/2020
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Public Consultation on Marine Noise: Add Your Two Cents!

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is organizing a public consultation on the impact of noise in Canada’s oceans, and you are…

|News 20/10/2020

Right Whales in the Estuary: Exceptional Response for an Exceptional Presence

Among its many missions, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) manages cases of marine mammals known as “vagrants”,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 15/10/2020

They’re still here!

As Quebec slowly gets deeper into autumn, foliage reaches its peak and the wind gusts and rain grow more intense,…

|Observation of the Week 9/10/2020

Black: Colour of Hope

This past week in the St. Lawrence Estuary, it was a funny-looking rounded black back with a V-shaped breath that…

|Observation of the Week 1/10/2020
rorqual bleu

Why is the blue whale so big?

It is bigger than the largest dinosaur. And it weighs roughly 25 times more than the largest living land animal,…

|Whale Q&A 16/9/2020
DL dents

What do St. Lawrence belugas eat?

It may seem surprising, but up until a few months ago, the diet of the St. Lawrence beluga was not…

|News, Whale Q&A 1/9/2020

Stray Whales: Lost or Just Exploring?

Every so often, a solitary whale makes headlines. It might be a beluga seen off the coast San Diego, California,…

|News 18/8/2020

Are whales diurnal or nocturnal?

Within the animal kingdom, most species adjust their periods of sleep and activity according to a repeated 24-hour cycle called…

|Whale Q&A 22/7/2020

400 Right Whales Left… Now What?

How many North Atlantic right whales are left in the world? If the answer today hovers around 400, for researchers,…

|News 6/7/2020

First Right Whale Carcass: Another Calf Struck by a Ship

The first North Atlantic right whale carcass in 2020 was spotted during an aerial survey on June 25, drifting off…

|News 6/7/2020

Skeletons Moved to Tadoussac’s Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre

Friday, May 15, 9:30 a.m. Fully dressed and knapsack ready to go, I can hardly wait to kick off this special…

|Field Notes 28/6/2020
Souffle EG Baleine noire

Right Whale Protection Measures: Highs and Lows

Since the start of the year, news concerning protection measures specific to North Atlantic right whales has been like a…

|News 25/6/2020

My dream is to swim with dolphins or whales. What would be the impact of such an activity?

In many places around the globe, ecotourism organizations offer the opportunity to swim with marine mammals. Whether we’re talking about…

|Whale Q&A 3/6/2020

North Atlantic Right Whales Disturbingly Unfit

It is widely known that the North Atlantic right whale population is struggling, but a study has recently underscored just…

|News 19/5/2020
EG Baleine noire empetree

2020 North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring

The endangered North Atlantic right whale is subject to special surveillance and protection measures. Since 2017, the species has been…

|Hot Topics 14/5/2020

Up-close Footage of Nursing Humpback

This video went viral on social networks around the globe. And for good reason. How awesome to view the world…

|News 13/5/2020

Arrival of Right Whales Triggers Protective Measures

After wintering in the coastal waters of Florida and Georgia, right whales are back in the Gulf of St. Lawrence!…

|News 7/5/2020

Are there actually several species of killer whales?

Certainly you know that there are several species of whales and many species of dolphins. But did you know that…

|Whale Q&A 6/5/2020

“Navigating Whale Habitat”: Free Training for Boaters and Kayakers

Are you an avid kayaker, sailboater or motorboat enthusiast, and do you frequent the St. Lawrence or the Saguenay? The…

|News 1/5/2020

Future sanctuary for captive Belugas in Nova Scotia

Creating a “retirement home” in the open sea that is capable of providing the best possible living conditions for whales…

|News 30/4/2020

Are whales affected by COVID-19?

This question comes to us via our Whales Online Facebook page: Could the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting humans around the globe…

|Whale Q&A 14/4/2020

Humpback Whale Attacked by Great White Sharks

Researchers witnessed a rare event in Mossel Bay, at the southern tip of the African continent: two great white sharks…

|News 1/4/2020
Un plongeur nage près d'une épave couverte d'algues

Is sinking a ship to create a reef dangerous for whales?

This question comes from residents of Godbout, a small village in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region. In this municipality, starting point of…

|Whale Q&A 27/3/2020
Rorqual bleu s'alimentant

How do we know how big a blue whale gulp is?

For researchers, studying the giants of the seas is no easy task! For example, how do they quantify how much…

|Whale Q&A 24/3/2020

Record Migration of Killer Whale Confirmed with Photo-ID

In early February, an adult male killer whale was spotted off the coast of Lebanon, near Beirut. A rare occurrence…

|News 11/3/2020