Welcome to Straitwatch
Straitwatch CrewDawn Grebner Photo of KW

Welcome to Straitwatch

Straitwatch is a stewardship-based marine mammal monitoring and education program operated in Johnstone Strait (from Port Hardy to Campbell River) and in Haro Strait and Juan De Fuca Straits off Victoria. Our program, operated by cetus research & conservation society, monitors marine activity around marine mammals, especially killer whales, and provides boaters with information on marine species and the Be Whale Wise Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines. By increasing the public awareness of the threats these animals face, such as habitat degradation, decreased food availability, increasing underwater noise and contaminant levels, we encourage boaters to modify their behaviour to alleviate reduce their impact on these species.

Our goals are:

  • to minimize the potential disturbance of recreational vessel traffic on killer whales and other marine wildlife by promoting guidelines for responsible viewing
  • to increase public awareness of the potential consequences of inappropriate viewing behaviour and current ecological issues affecting marine wildlife locally and globally
  • to promote respect for and understanding of the marine environment,
  • to involve communities and individuals in developing and carrying out the program.