How Cetus slows boaters, saves whales, and protects the future of our waters
The call came in on a calm July morning — a humpback whale was in trouble. Spotted thrashing at the surface and dragging a buoy behind it, the whale was entangled and in distress. It was a race against time.
The Cetus Research and Conservation Society team sprang into action by clearing the bow, prepping the gear, and carefully closing in. When the whale paused for just a moment, a fisheries officer snagged the trailing rope, and a satellite tag was deployed — marking the start of a long and harrowing rescue.
For hours, the whale struggled. The rope cut into its skin, leaving wounds and a trail of blood. While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) disentanglement experts worked to free it, the Cetus team documented the scene, attempted to identify the whale, and stayed close as backup. As the final lines finally broke free, the whale lifted its flukes revealing unmistakable markings. It was Smoke (II) BCX2183, a well-known whale, who is now swimming free and on the mend.
Though Cetus plays a vital role in these rescues, it’s important to note, only DFO is authorized to disentangle whales. Cetus assists by tagging, identifying, documenting, monitoring, and keeping the area safe. If you see an entangled whale, report it immediately to the Marine Mammal Hotline at 1-800-465-4336.
Working to slow boaters down
Cetus also focuses on informing boaters about best practices for interacting with whales and other marine mammals. One of the major challenges is the speed at which boats travel, so the organization relays the importance of slowing down to boaters when near whales. The noise from boat engines and equipment is disruptive, particularly for killer whales, as they rely heavily on echolocation to communicate and hunt. The Cetus team starts their days early, spending up to eight hours on the water monitoring cetaceans and gathering data on vessel activity around marine mammals.
Executive Director Mark Dombowsky said that Cetus’ specialized approach has a substantial impact. “We’re one of the few Canadian NGOs on the water every day in the summer protecting the whales. The work we’re doing is unique.”
Straitwatch Coordinators Emma Shuparski and Lindsay Kolb are among the dedicated researchers leading these efforts. The team records information on the frequency of vessel contact, including how close vessels are coming to whales, what type of activity they’re engaging in, and whether there are violations of the marine mammal regulations or guidelines, explained Emma.
Boaters are encouraged to slow their vessels to seven knots or less within one kilometre of a whale to minimize acoustic disturbance. Cetus also advises boaters to keep their distance from the whales, with a minimum of 400 metres for killer whales, and 200 metres for other species.
Protecting deep-feeling species
The Cetus group recognizes each marine mammal as an individual, each life carrying immense significance. “The southern resident killer whale, for example, is an endangered population. They’re in a lot of trouble and we need to try to save and protect every single one. One life could make the difference to that population down the road,” said Emma.
“There is also an emotional component seen in whale behaviour, signaling that they’re a deep-feeling species who experience emotions, including grief,” Lindsay explained. When one whale lost her baby to an early death, she carried around its deceased body for 17 days, she added.
“We are a lean organization, and when we receive support from Victoria Foundation and others, it is going to something quite practical – like our staff, fuel, or boat repair. Any support we receive has a direct impact,” said Mark. Cetus received a Victoria Foundation Community Grant of $25,000 in 2024 for protecting endangered whales.
Through their steady dedication and innovative solutions, Cetus is setting an important example in marine conservation to ensure that future generations can continue to witness the beauty and intelligence of whales in BC waters.