Virtual tour: Restoring a quiet environment for whales Preview

A world of sound

Sound is very important for toothed whales like Narwhals, Killer Whales, and Belugas (see photos above). They use sound to navigate, hunt and communicate.

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Noisy homes

Southern Resident Killer Whales on the west coast of British Columbia and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga whales in Quebec live and travel in some of Canada's busiest and noisiest waters. Underwater noise can mask sounds that whales use to navigate, hunt, and to socialize. The mouth of the Saguenay river in Quebec is an important summer habitat for the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, an endangered species.Listen to the St. Lawrence Estuary Belugas as a boat travels by

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Protected waters

Learn where Parks Canada is helping to protect places for whales in Quebec, British Columbia, and Nunavut.

British Columbia

The endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales live seasonally in the protected waters off British Columbia. Some of these areas include the waters around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

Quebec

The St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga Whales are local residents of Quebec. Over 75% of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is important Beluga habitat. They go here to feed, to meet a partner or extended family, or to go to a quiet place. It is also the busiest section of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, where each year thousands of boats travel in the beluga’s habitat.The Marine Park and its surrounding areas are also important summertime habitats for other marine mammals.

Nunavut

The Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) is an important seascape in Nunavut. The area is known around the world as a natural treasure, where whales like the Bowhead, Narwhal, and Beluga are protected.

Whales speak up

Whales depend on protected areas as refuges from disturbances, like underwater noise. Both Southern Resident Killer Whales and St. Lawrence Estuary Belugas have been shown to communicate more loudly when boat traffic is near.Loud underwater noise can mask calls between female Belugas and their calves. Areas that are important for whales need the most protection from noise disturbance.

Working together to protect whales

Parks Canada collaborates with other groups to create and manage protected waters that help at-risk whales and the entire ecosystem. This includes working closely with Indigenous groups and other federal departments. Research partners, non-governmental organizations, and locals are also involved. Together, we take action to improve the conservation of whales and their habitats.

Actions in the water

Parks Canada is doing marine research in many places to protect whales, including British Columbia, Quebec, and Nunavut.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

See what it's like to do marine mammal surveys at Gulf Islands National Park Reserve!

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

The marine ecology team in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve carries out marine mammal surveys onboard a boat called the K'aka'win — the Nuu-chah-nulth word for ‘Killer Whale’. The team: records underwater sounds to identify whales, dolphins, and porpoises by their unique calls documents sightings of Southern Resident Killer Whales using visual surveys and photography documents the number and location of Southern Resident Killer Whales that are present during the year

Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park

The conservation team at the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park, in Quebec, studies whales from the shore, and on-board their research boat. Using mainly visual observations and hydroacoustic monitoring (listening for whale vocalizations (clicks and whistles) underwater), staff work to: better understand the distribution patterns of each species present in the Marine Park identify and estimate the abundance of the main prey species (krill, capelin, sand lance) describe and count boat types and activities, and characterize interactions with marine mammals inside the Marine Park.

Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area

Parks Canada and partners are researching the effects of underwater noise on whales at Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area in Nunavut. Parks Canada uses Inuit traditional knowledge to help inform this study by working with partners like the Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s Nauttiqsuqtiit Inuit Stewards. Using underwater microphones, they track the source and characteristics of underwater noise, including noise from ships, to determine how underwater noise may affect marine life.

How you can help protect whales

Protected waters managed by Parks Canada are special places where whales can often be spotted right from the shore. Explore over 100 sites listed on The Whale Trail to learn more about shore-based whale watching!

Want to learn more?

In the heart of the St. Lawrence, beluga whales live alongside humans day after day. Find out how Parks Canada is helping humans to better live with beluga whales by exploring our Google Arts & Culture virtual exhibit: The St. Lawrence Beluga and Humans at a Crossroads.