Marine mammals

British Columbia’s coastline is 900 kilometres as the crow flies, but includes over 27,000 kilometers of archipelago, inlets, islands and fjords. This geography fosters a spectacular diversity of life but also makes it vulnerable to a variety of threats, from oil spills to increasing industrialization. Our marine conservation program aims to protect marine mammals, marine birds and their habitats.

A Southern Resident killer whale glides through the water.

Marine mammals

The federal government is taking feedback on its proposed 2022 recovery measures until March 2

2022-02-262022-03-04

To assist you with the survey, we have drafted suggested answers to the questions. Please add anything else you see fit. The survey is 23 questions and will take less than 10 minutes. It is okay to leave some answers …

Three Southern Resident killer whales surface during the day in the Salish Sea.

Marine mammals

The impact of vessel traffic on whales’ critical life functions

2021-02-152021-10-01

Harm on heavy vessel traffic on whales critical habitat and life functions.

Killer whales and baby swims in the ocean, as seen from above

Marine mammals

We asked you to provide input to the Canadian government survey on these measures

2021-01-052021-02-16

To reduce threats to critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, the federal government took initial steps in the last two years to limit noise and disturbance (from vessels) and to create areas where killer whales can feed without competition from fishing boats.

A rainbow is created by the exhalation of a killer whale breaking through the water.

Marine mammals

Southern Residents and recovery

2020-12-222020-12-22

Raincoast’s approach to recovering Southern Resident killer whales stands on two primary tenets. First is to hold the line: to keep critical habitat in the Salish Sea from becoming further degraded. The second tenet is to reduce the immediate threats undermining their survival; lack of food, noise and disturbance from vessels, and pollutants that accumulate in their food.

Tail fins and white patch on black back of two orcas visible in the Salish Sea beside Saturna Island.

Marine mammals

Safeguard the Southern Resident killer whales

2020-10-212020-11-16

There are currently just 74 members of the Southern Resident killer whales remaining.

Three orcas seen in the photograph, partially out of the blue ocean, spouting water, one is mid turn with its white belly showing

Marine mammals

Boats and ships pose threat to Southern Resident killer whales

2020-09-302020-10-01

When endangered Southern Resident killer whales are using the inside waters of the Salish Sea, they are in the presence of boats and ships about 85% of the time.

Three orca whales seen from overhead in blue water.

Marine mammals

Terminal 2 will increase chances of SRKW extinction

2020-08-102020-08-21

The increased shipping noise from Terminal 2 will reduce feeding success for the Southern Residents.

A beautiful photograph that seems monochromatic. Two orca whales, Southern Resident, are seen fin and body above still grey ocean waters under a grey sky that bleeds horizon less into the ocean.

Marine mammals

Win a copy of Spirits of the Coast

2020-07-232020-07-28

We hosted an inspiring online event last night focused on the Royal BC Museum book about killer whales, Spirits of the Coast.

Orca's white belly visible in clear green ocean water, while nearby another orca shows us its black back and fins partially out of the water

Marine mammals

Stop Terminal 2 expansion threatening resident orcas

2020-06-292020-07-14

The Port of Vancouver is proposing to double the size of its Deltaport shipping terminal in the Fraser Estuary.

One orca whale back and tail fin almost completely out of the water is spouting water from in the peaceful still grey waters with evergreen trees lining the banks

Marine mammals

Misty MacDuffee contributes essay to new book Spirits of the Coast

2020-06-052021-11-08

Spirits of the Coast is our new favourite book. It brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists and storytellers, united by their love for killer whales.

Close up of orca whale, black and white head and body and front fins visible in clear green water

Marine mammals

Recovery efforts for resident orcas

2020-05-052020-05-20

In 2019, we saw the most significant threat reduction measures the Canadian government has taken to date to support recovery of Southern Resident killer whales.

Orca pod of three whales with two of them tail fin and back visible and spouting jets of water, white bubbles in blue ocean against dar green forest backdrop

Marine mammals

A decade of fighting for Southern Resident killer whales

2020-04-162020-05-02

For over a decade, we’ve been using science, public education and the courts to protect Southern Resident killer whales.

A flock of white and black snow geese with yellow beaks captured in mid flight as they crpwd out the blue in the sky, above paler blue waters of the Fraser Estuary

Marine mammals

Help stop Terminal 2 expansion

2020-04-032020-05-02

In the heart of the Fraser Estuary, the Port of Vancouver is proposing to double the size of the Deltaport shipping terminal at Roberts Bank, putting further stress on an estuary which has already lost over 80% of its natural habitat.

Three orcas partically visible raising a great deal of froth in blue ocean with a misty forest and mountain background

Marine mammals

Help fill out this government survey on orcas by March 23

2020-03-202020-03-22

Here is some positive action you can take while social distancing. There is currently a government survey...

Back, tail fin and head of an orca whale visible as black on blue in the ocean under pale blue sunny skies

Marine mammals

The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that it will not hear a set of legal challenges to help the Southern Resident killer whales

2020-03-052020-03-22

Breaking News: The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that it will not hear a set of legal challenges to the federal government’s re-approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline project, including...

Two orca whale bodies and their fins visible as they are more than half out of the blue ocean water, with some froth near their heads and a beautiful prism of rainbow colours arcing across the foreground

Marine mammals

Show your love this Valentine’s day

2020-02-142020-02-14

Raincoast has a deep commitment to all the wildlife of BC’s Coast, including the Southern Resident killer whales. We have been using science, legal action and public engagement to...

Tail and back of a single orca whale visible above sunset waters in blue and silver

Marine mammals

Federal Court of Appeal dismisses challenge to Trans Mountain

2020-02-042020-02-13

Today the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Squamish Nation...

A pod of orcas with their backs and tail fins visible in blue ocean raising misty spray while the forested shore is visible behind.

Marine mammals

Orcas in danger of extinction, but recovery is possible

2020-01-232020-02-13

For over 10 years, Raincoast has been using science, public education and the courts to try and protect Canada’s endangered population of salmon-eating Southern Resident killer whales. With their salmon stocks in decline...

Marine mammals

Humpback

2019-12-302020-01-08

Humpback whale.

Close up photograph of an orca whale, white and black face and black body partially out of green water.

Marine mammals

Southern Residents and recovery

2019-12-262019-12-26

In 2019, we saw the most significant threat reduction measures the Canadian government has taken to date to support recovery of Southern Resident killer whales. Through coordinated legal, scientific, and public outreach strategies, and government negotiations, Raincoast and our …

Several killer whales and one juvenile orca whale swimming very close to its parent throw up spray and foam in the blue green ocean.

Marine mammals

Killer whales and court rooms

2019-12-232019-12-23

We have to go back to the last century (1999) to begin our story of killer whales and court rooms. It was then that both Northern and Southern Resident killer whales were recommended for listing, respectively as threatened and endangered. …

A pod of orcas with four or five bodies partially visible swim in the blue ocean

Marine mammals

BREAKING. Raincoast takes on Trans Mountain pipeline expansion at the Supreme Court of Canada

2019-11-052019-12-17

BREAKING. Today, Raincoast takes our work to protect Southern Resident killer whales from the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. Working with Living Oceans and our legal team at Ecojustice...

A montage of CBC Radio images of Misty MacDuffee

Marine mammals

[Terrain électoral] Le pipeline Trans Mountain menace les épaulards

2019-10-232020-09-04

Après trois morts cette année, il ne reste plus que 73 épaulards résidents du sud. Cette espèce en voie de disparition est le talon d’Achille du projet d’expansion du pipeline Trans Mountain. Le gouvernement canadien est légalement responsable de les …

A male photographer in grey and black clothes adjusts a camera and recorder on a tall tripod at the edge of a cliff

Marine mammals

New documentary on Southern Resident killer whales

2019-09-242019-12-17

We are excited to share that we are in the development phase of a new documentary on Southern Resident killer whales. It is being directed by Michael O Snyder...

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