Conservation Efforts Aim to Protect Endangered Whales in British Columbia Waters
In British Columbia, two groups are actively working to protect endangered whale species from vessel strikes and noise pollution. The HALLO project, based at Simon Fraser University, uses technology to monitor whale movements and vessel traffic in the Salish Sea, aiming to reduce ship noise that interferes with the whales' ability to find food. The W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians, an Indigenous-led initiative, are collaborating with HALLO to restore the bond between First Nations people and the whales, advocating for increased protections. These efforts are crucial as southern resident killer whales, one of the most critically endangered marine mammals in Canada, face threats from declining chinook salmon populations and busy shipping corridors.