Be a whale safe boater: use best practices around marine mammals.

Reduce Noise — Increase Distance — Report Violations & Animals in Distress

Be a whale safe boater and keep your distance when you see a whale breaching like this humpback. Credit Robert Scriba.

Best Procedures & Practices for boating on BC’s Coast around Marine Mammals

Whale Safe Boating Practices & Procedures

Educational Resources developed by the Marine Education & Research Society (MERS)

Learn details at www.seeablowgoslow.org:

  • Laws, Regulations & Boater Safety
  • Incident Reporting
  • Safety of Boaters and Marine Mammals
  • Key Points for Avoiding Collisions
  • Whale-Safe Boating Course
  • Entangled Whales – What to do if you see one
  • Maps for Areas of Humpback Density
  • Know your FLAGS – Information about flags on the water
  • Best Practices – Being Whale Wise

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What if dolphins or porpoises bow ride?
Is it okay if “the whales come to you”?
What if I’m fishing and there are whales?
How does reporting violations help?
What is ethical whale watching?

It is very important that boaters know that any dead, distressed, entangled, injured marine mammal needs to be reported ASAP to Marine Mammal Response Line: 1-800-465-4336. If not in service, it should be reported via VHF Ch 16 for relay to Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO).

How do I learn more?

MERS’s whale safe boating course should be available in late 2024, online and free. Boaters can sign up to be alerted when it is ready.

Even killer whales like to frolic, credit Destination BC

Contribute with Your Sightings and Photos

Report Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises

…to the Ocean Wise Sightings Network. Contribute to citizen science!

Free Whale Report App

…from ocean.org

Submit photos of Humpback Whales

…to the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration for identification of individuals

Marine Mammal ID Sheets

…from Ocean Wise

The BC Ocean Boating Tourism Association acknowledges the important work of MERS — the Marine Education & Research Society — and its invaluable contribution to the safety of marine mammals on BC’s Coast. It is their detailed work that, with the combined efforts of resident and visiting boaters, make a significant difference to the quality of life for our unique inhabitants of the sea. We thank you for your research and for the privilege of sharing this invaluable information with boaters. You enhance our quality of life.