Killer whale with baby

Local Species At Risk

The Straitwatch program provides education about and monitoring of all marine mammals and sea birds in the area that are affected by boating activity. Many of these species are listed by COSEWIC (The Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada) as at-risk of becoming extinct. The table below (current as of April 2009) lists the species that COSEWIC has listed in our areas of operation (Northern Vancouver Island, Campbell River, Tofino / Ucluelet and Victoria).

If you would like to learn more about any of the species please visit the Vancouver Aquarium's B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network (wildwhales.org) or the SPECIES AT RISK website at www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca

Photo Species Name (common & Latin) COSEWIC Status (listed date)
Killer Whale

Killer whale - NE Pacific southern resident population -
Orcinus orca

 

 Endangered (November 2001)
Killer Whale

Killer whale - NE Pacific northern resident population -
Orcinus orca

Killer whale - NE Pacific transient population -
Orcinus orca

Killer whale - NE Pacific offshore population -
Orcinus orca

 Threatened (November 2001)
Minke Whale Minke Whale - North Pacific population
Balaenoptera Acutorostrata 		Under Review
Humpback Whale Humpback whale - North Pacific population -
Megaptera Novaeangliae		 Threatened
(May 2003)
Fin Whale Fin Whale - Pacific population -
Balenoptera Physalus		 Threatened
(May 2005)
Grey Whale Gray Whale - NE Pacific population -
Eschrichtius Robustus		 Special Concern
(May 2004)
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin Pacific White-Sided Dolphin - Pacific population Lagenorhynchus Obliquidens Not at Risk
(April 1990)
Harbour Porpoise Harbour Porpoise - Pacific population
Phocoena Phocoena		 Special Concern
(November 2003)
Dahl's Porpoise Dall’s Porpoise - Pacific population
Phocoenoides Dalli 		Not at Risk
(April 1989)
Sea Otter Sea Otter - Pacific population
Enhydra lutris		 Special Concern
(April 2007)
Stellae Sea Lion Steller Sea Lion - Pacific population
Eumetopias Jubatus		 Special Concern
(November 2003)
Elephant Seal Northern Elephant Seal - Pacific population
Mirounga Angustirostris		 Not at Risk
(April 1986)
Blue Heron Pacific Great Blue Heron - BC population
Ardea Herodias Fannini 		Special Concern
(April 1997)
Marbled Murrelet Marbled Murrelet - BC population
Brachyramphus Marmoratus		 Threatened
(November 2000)
Ancient Murrelet Ancient Murrelet - BC population
Aynthliboramphus Antiquus		 Special Concern
(November 2004)