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Working together with renowned research scientists like Dr. Lance Barrett-Leonard
of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, the resorts have embarked upon
a program to monitor and assess the impacts of commercial and leisure marine traffic
on whale feeding and migration.
By installing and monitoring underwater
hydrophones, and recording both the underwater vocalization of whales, and boat
traffic noise, scientists hope to better understand whale behaviour. | |
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Clayoquot and surrounding marine environments are extremely rich and biologically
productive areas where vast salmon populations attract killer whales, humpback
whales, porpoises, stellar sea lions, harbour seals, California seals and a
wide variety of sea birds.
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In May of 2004, resort guests from
Europe, the Allianz Insurance Group, underwrote and helped install two underwater
hydrophones. Since installation, data from both units has been continuously transmitting
to the Telegraph Cove Whale Centre for monitoring and study.
On a smaller
scale, resort whale watching guides carry portable hydrophones, affording guests
real-time interaction with the gentle giants below the surface.
As new
information about marine traffic impacts on whales becomes available, it will
be posted on this website and published in The
Sounder newsletter.
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