Yes! Several long-term research programs on whales in the St. Lawrence are based on photo-identification. MICS manages the central catalog of humpback and blue whales, in addition to fin whales in the Gulf; GREMM manages the fin whale database for the estuary, the sperm whale catalog, and the beluga family album; and the M\u00e9riscope manages the minke whale database for the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. The principle is simple: each whale is unique, and good-quality photos make it possible to recognize individuals from one time to the next, thus tracing their movements, habitats, associations and even, for females, the frequency with which they reproduce.<\/p>\n
All these research groups plan a sampling effort that, in addition to recognizing individuals, allows them to answer specific questions about the population or the behavior of individuals. But amateur photos can also provide valuable information: present in places or at times when researchers are not on the water, they sometimes \u201ccapture\u201d an animal that has not been seen for a long time, or document its presence very early or very late in the season.<\/p>\n
A few examples:<\/p>\n
Last March, photos taken from land by a whale and bird enthusiast made it possible to identify the beluga whale Pascolio at the entrance to the Saguenay Fjord and the blue whale B009 off Cape Bon D\u00e9sir. In August 2012, in Matane, a boater snapped a picture of the blue whale Torishinto. In the fall of 2011, the blue whale B103 was photographed in Gasp\u00e9 by an amateur photographer.<\/p>\n
So, yes, amateur whale photos can be very useful! However, in order to clearly distinguish the details that allow each individual to be recognized, high-quality photos are needed, which sometimes require getting close to the animals. This type of approach requires a special permit. As an amateur, it is therefore important not to get carried away by enthusiasm and to respect the rules of approach or codes of conduct in force. Don’t take photos at any cost!<\/p>\n