Enc Date:14/05/20

Enc Seq:1

Enc#: 27

Observ Begin: 08:46 AM

Observ End: 10:20 AM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Pods: Transients

Location Descr: Constance Bank

Start Latitude: 48 21.2

Start Longitude: 123 19.99

End Latitude: 48 20.4

End Longitude: 123 23.5

 

Enc Summary:

At 0759, Mark received a call from a colleague who was fishing for halibut south of Trial Island and had spotted a large group of killer whales westbound for Constance Bank.
Mark mobilized Mike 1 and left Victoria harbour at 0824. As he approached the north edge of Constance Bank, he could see a fair number of animals in the distance slowly westbound at the east edge of the bank. He came across T124C, who was alone and ~.25 nm to the north of the others before making his way to the main concentration of animals. There were 3 main groups comprised of females and juveniles, and it looked as though there were around 20 individuals in total. He then spotted a larger bull trailing the group, which he was able to confirm T087 through Swarovskis. The first group Mark came across was very animated, and T075C did a cartwheel followed by several breaches. Although the general track was westbound, the animals circled around Constance Bank for the following 90 minutes with continuous vocalizations. Mark was hearing surface vocals as well as clear vocals resonating through the hull of Mike 1. For the entire encounter, the two bulls, T124C and T087, socially distanced themselves and the others at close to .25nm while doing longer dives. Mike 1 ended the encounter at 1020 when Mark was confident that he got decent identification pictures of all individuals present. After going through the photos at home he was able to confirm the T065B's, T075B's and C's, T086As, and the T124A's less T124A1 (23 individuals).

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 21238/ DFO SARA 388