RECAP OF MARCH WHALES IN CLAYOQUOT SOUND

March is finished, and what a March it was in Clayoquot Sound!

Clayoquot Sound saw multiple herring spawns, leading to a huge variety of wildlife taking advantage of the opportunity to feed. Amongst the scoters, sea lions and bald eagles taking advantage of the opportunity, we saw a number of our “local” grey whales return.

During the summer months we typically see Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) grey whales. These are whales that are unlikely to migrate all the way up to places like the Chukchi Sea, but feed further south. There’s a bit of a myth that those whales are only here in the summer, and that the whales we’re seeing right now are “passing through”. This spring has been another example of that not being the case. We’ve photographed 10 of our “locals” already, and we’d expect many more were feeding close by at other herring spawn events. Many of these whales have nicknames, others are designated codes by local researchers. If you joined us on a tour this spring perhaps you’ll spot one of the whales you saw, below.

Yates

LUNA

2022gw63 (a female who visited with a calf in 2023)

csg14

chewy

dairy cow

mini white

csg776

snowflake

thirtytwo

This is just the start of the season, and we’d expect to see more and more “locals” returning soon. At this point in the year we often start heading down to Long Beach for another feeding event that takes place in April and May. Who would we expect to see? You never know – but we’re definitely hoping to find Marcus and Pattern. These two whales have been seen feeding together by our team in every year since 2018.

pattern (fluking) & Marcus (exhaling) at long beach in 2023

Will they meet up again this year? We can’t wait to find out!

By Mark Sawyer

WHALE WATCHING IN MARCH

March is a key month for the migration of grey whales along the Pacific Coast. These whales travel from their breeding grounds in Baja California, Mexico, to their feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. Tofino is a popular spot to witness this migration.

In addition to whales, Tofino's waters are teeming with other marine life such as sea lions, seals, porpoises, and a wide variety of seabirds. Whale watching tours often offer the chance to observe these diverse species in their natural habitat.

Not coming in March? Whale Watching is available March to November. You can view resident grey whales, humpback whales, minke whales and killer whales during the spring, summer and fall.

Tofino has a strong commitment to eco-tourism, conservation and research. The Whale Centre is committed to responsible wildlife viewing practices to minimize the impact on the environment and wildlife. Supporting these eco-friendly initiatives allows visitors to contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems.

Whale watching tours are a popular activity in Tofino, and experienced guides can provide valuable information about the whales and other marine life you encounter.