Bay of Fundy Whale Research and Conservation Society

11/29/2025

The weekend has started with an amazing update from Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Right whale calving season has begun! Good news for a critically endangered species!

🐋 🚨 The first baby North Atlantic right whale calf of the season has been spotted! 💙

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute's aerial survey team located Champagne (catalog #3904) and her calf east of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina on November 28, 2025. This is the first aerial sighting of a mom and calf right whale pair in the Southeast US for the 2025-2026 season. Champagne is 17 years old and this is her 2nd documented calf. Her first calf, named Wall-E, was born in 2021.

According to the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, curated by the New England Aquarium, Champagne was born in 2009 to mother Spindle ( #1204). Spindle, is the most prolific right whale in the known population, given birth to 10 calves, and counting!

North Atlantic right whales are one of the most critically endangered species with an estimated population of 384 whales remaining. These large baleen whales migrate annually between their feeding grounds off the coast of Canada and New England and their calving grounds off the Southeast coast from the Carolinas to Florida in the winter. They are threatened by vessel strikes and entanglements with commercial fishing gear, but they have seen a small upward trend in population estimates in recent years thanks to conservation efforts and protections for these endangered animals. Only 11 calves were born last season but as many as 20 have been born in other recent years.

Photo Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

10/12/2025

🗓️ Field Update | October 6, 2025
Location: Bay of Fundy – Area Surrounding Brier Island
Survey Focus: Humpback Whale Presence and Association Patterns

On October 6, 2025, our research team departed from Brier Island at 8:00 AM for a 7-hour survey in the Bay of Fundy. Calm seas and crisp autumn air made for ideal field conditions as we began our transect toward the deeper water of the Bay.

Early in the day, we encountered a trio of humpbacks—Badge, Gremlin, and Kalimba—surfacing together in steady intervals. Not long after, we recorded a pair of humpbacks, Flame and Pierce, followed by a solitary individual, Sunburst, gliding quietly along the tide line.

As we continued our survey, additional sightings came in quick succession: a brief pass by an unidentified whale, a double encounter with Solas and Memorial, and a single known individual, Bottleneck. Later, a group of four—Tether, Sabertooth, Cirrus, and Collision—were observed traveling together. Rounding out the survey, we documented Lacuna, Ditto and Jigger, and finally Scream and Steller, bringing the total to 19 individual humpback whales for the day.

In addition to humpbacks, the team observed short-beaked common dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins traveling near the vessel and around the humpback whales.

Throughout the day, our team recorded detailed observations of whale behavior, fluke and dorsal fin photographs, and environmental data including sea surface state and prey abundance. These records will contribute to our ongoing analysis of humpback associations, habitat use, and seasonal movements within the Bay of Fundy.

We returned to port in the late afternoon with full data sheets, memory cards, and a deeper appreciation for the remarkable productivity of these waters as the season shifts toward autumn.

🐋 Each field day provides a new window into the dynamic lives of the Bay’s whales, and October 6 was no exception.

09/25/2025

A very interesting read about the lone orca, Old Thom who visits the area. A great shout out to two of our directors who were interviewed for the article; Dr. Jooke Robbins who is Director of Humpback Studies at the Center for Coastal Studies and Shelley Lonergan who is Research Director with Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises.

Sightings of the marine mammal captivate the public and baffle scientists

08/28/2025

🌊 Marine Mammal Regulations

🚤🐋 The Bay of Fundy is one of the best places in the world to watch whales — but how we watch them matters. Getting too close to whales and other marine mammals can disturb, stress, or even harm them. That’s why Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations (MMR) were created: to protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises while allowing us to enjoy their beauty responsibly.

In Canada, it’s the law to keep your distance from marine mammals:
✔️ 100 metres from most whales, dolphins, and porpoises
✔️ 400 metres from endangered whales (like the North Atlantic right whale)

It’s also against the law to disturb them — no feeding, swimming with, or cutting off their movement.

💡 But there’s more we can all do to keep whales safe:
• Use binoculars to watch from a distance.
• Slow down to under 7 knots within 1 km of whales.
• Don’t approach head-on or from behind — always from the side, moving parallel.
• Limit your viewing time to 30 minutes or less.
• If a whale comes close, shift to neutral and let them move on safely.
• Never separate a calf from its mother or trap whales between boats and shore.
• Report injured or entangled whales to the proper authorities.
• Respect the ecosystem and follow best practices.

These small actions make a big difference. When we respect their space, we protect their health, their families, and their future. 💙

📜 From Ethics to Law

Before 2018, many Bay of Fundy operators followed a voluntary code of ethics — like limiting boats to two around a whale. In 2018, the federal government made things official: the Marine Mammal Regulations became law, ensuring all operators follow the same standards.

This shift gave the rules legal weight under the Fisheries Act and aligned with protections under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), helping endangered whales like the North Atlantic right whale.

💙 Why it matters

By following these rules, tour operators, pleasure vessels, and whale watchers all help ensure whales remain safe and undisturbed. Responsible whale watching means these incredible animals can continue thriving in our waters — for generations to come.

📣 Next time you’re on the water — whether in a kayak, fishing boat, or tour vessel — remember: their home, their rules.

📸Images taken from Fisheries and Oceans Canada

08/21/2025

Exciting sightings by our charter member Quoddy Link Marine

Send a message to learn more

08/19/2025

08/17/2025

🐋 Whale ID: How Do We Recognize Individual Whales?

Just like every person has a fingerprint, every whale has unique features that set them apart. Researchers use these natural “ID cards” to keep track of individuals across years and oceans.

🔹 Fluke Patterns – The underside of a humpback whale’s tail, or fluke, has a distinctive mix of black and white pigmentation. No two are alike, making them one of the most reliable ways to identify individuals.

🔹 Dorsal Fins – Whale dorsal fins are a bit like human noses—they come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are tall and curved, others short and hooked, and these subtle variations can be key in ID work.

🔹 Scarring & Markings – Over time, whales often acquire scars from encounters with fishing gear, other whales, or even barnacles. These lasting marks can help distinguish one individual from another.

By cataloguing these features, scientists can monitor whale populations, track migrations, and even learn about the life stories of individuals who return year after year. Each photo taken adds another piece to the puzzle of protecting these magnificent animals. 💙