Today was a classic west-coast morning: clouds scattered across the sky with the sun peeking through, creating a stunning backdrop for our day on the water. All three of our vessels departed Nanaimo Harbour and headed north into the Strait of Georgia, travelling toward Nanoose Bay and riding the waves along the way.

As we entered the Winchelsea Island Archipelago, our search for whales was rewarded. In the distance, we spotted two humpback whales moving through the water together. Upon approach, we were able to quickly identify them as El Diablo (BCX0132) and Geometry (BCZ0338). These whales were actively feeding, regularly lifting their massive tails into the air before diving beneath the surface in search of krill and small schooling fish.

Humpback whales play an important role in the Salish Sea ecosystem, often referred to as “ecosystem engineers.” One of the ways they influence their environment is through the process of nutrient cycling. By feeding at depth and defecating at the surface, they act as “nitrogen pumps,” transporting essential nutrients from the deep waters to the surface. This activity supports the growth of plankton, which forms the base of the marine food web. Today, we were lucky enough to witness this firsthand as El Diablo released red-tinged fecal plumes, a clear demonstration of this vertical nutrient transfer.

But humpbacks don’t just move nutrients vertically. As they migrate south for the winter, they carry stored energy from their feeding grounds, effectively acting as a horizontal nutrient conveyor belt. While on their southern migration, they rely on fat reserves accumulated over the summer, releasing nitrogen in the form of urea while fasting, which further contributes to nutrient distribution across vast distances.

After observing El Diablo and Geometry, we continued our journey and quickly encountered another pair of humpbacks feeding in the area: Potamus’s 2023 calf and Poseidon (BCX2078), a 2019 calf of Whiskers. These younger individuals perform the same ecological role as their older counterparts, though their smaller size means their nutrient contribution is proportionally less. Regardless of age, each encounter highlights the remarkable presence of humpbacks in the Salish Sea and the ongoing recovery of their populations following the era of commercial whaling.

On our return toward Nanaimo, we made a few additional stops to observe other marine life. Snake Island provided a chance to see Harbour Seals resting on the rocks, while near the Harmac Pulp Mill, we observed both California and Steller Sea Lions taking advantage of the area’s haul-out sites. These pinnipeds rely on time out of the water to thermoregulate and conserve energy, a crucial complement to their daily foraging activities.

Finally, we found ourselves back in the Nanaimo Harbour, very happy with all the amazing wildlife encounters we had today. Throughout the trip, our Marine Naturalists onboard, Desarae Poier, Hayleigh Hilbert, and Jordan Robinson, captured photos of these encounters. Please enjoy them below!

September 20, 2025 - Double Humpback pairs in the Salish Sea