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EncDate:21/09/22 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:62

ObservBegin:03:28 PM

ObservEnd:05:19 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:J, K, L

Start Latitude:48 31.49

Start Longitude:124 48.20

End Latitude:48 31.64

End Longitude:124 51.48

EncSummary:

The second day of the CWR’s 2022 Port Renfrew expedition began well, with a survey of the western Juan de Fuca Strait completed before lunch, and many humpback whales observed and documented. The team’s rough estimate is that there are currently 175-200 unique individuals in the Juan de Fuca, perhaps the densest aggregation documented in the area since the population has begun to recover post-commercial whaling.
Mark and Joe presumed Southern Residents were not far from where they had left them the prior evening, and after refuelling at lunch, pushed that way. Shortly after leaving the dock, their colleagues at the DFO confirmed that indeed, Southern Resident killer whales were present (and westbound) off Cullite Cove, Vancouver Island. They continued west, and at 1528 were finally able to see the distant blows of J Clan just north of Everest (~6nm se of Swiftsure Bank).
The first group encountered were J19 and some of the J14s, travelling in a tight grouping to the south-southwest. J37 and young J59 were present, alongside J40. K34 and K43 were the next animals sighted, but it was clear that many Js and Ks were present, J19, J51, K26, K35, J39 and J44 among them. The team were also privy to a visit from K20 and K45, both looking healthy and energetic. The clan were generally trending toward the southwest, but were foraging as they went, and though it was tough to confirm with animals spread two or three miles in every direction, they seemed to be spending more time travelling and less time fishing than the previous evening. The spread was also smaller than the previous evening, with several pairs and small groups present. Still, some successful foraging was observed, and after a few minutes with K20 and K45, Fin was growing restless and ready to move on to humpback whales, so Mark and Joe ended the encounter at 1719 and picked their way through a few large groups of the leviathans before returning to Port Renfrew for the evening.

NotesComments:After ending the encounter, the Mike 1 crew passed and documented L72, L105 and others spread to the north-northeast of Everest. They were part of the same spread group of animals feeding in the area, and confirmed that members of all three J Clan pods were once again present at the western entrance to the Juan de Fuca.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 21238/ DFO SARA 388