Despite the rainy and moody weather, guests aboard Kula set off with high hopes as they set off into the Salish Sea. Our semi-covered boat started its adventure northward, following Nanaimo’s coastline.

Upon reaching Pipers Lagoon, Nanaimo’s history-rich waterfront park, some humpbacks were spotted! It was none other than Smoke/Squirrel (BCXBCY2183) with an unidentified friend!

Identifying humpback whales is done by taking a photo of the underside of their tail fluke. Each whale has unique patterns, marks, and notches that can be used to identify individual humpback whales from one another. Notably, Smoke/Squirrel has a large, unique white patch on the left side of their tail fluke (see our photos below!). Unfortunately, the friend of Smoke/Squirrel decided not to cooperate and fluked at a less than ideal angle, leading to difficulties trying to identify them. Although humpbacks can be identified using their dorsal fin, it can be tricky to confirm their identity using this technique alone. Seasoned professionals can sometimes use dorsal-fin identification reliably, but tail fluke identification has been the gold standard since the 1980s.

Pipers Lagoon is a small waterfront park in Nanaimo, popular with both swimmers and hikers. At low tide, the lagoon becomes a feeding ground for a variety of shorebirds, drawn to the abundance of invertebrates in the muddy silt. Just offshore lies Shack Island, known for its brightly painted, weathered shacks that can be reached on foot at low tide. While it’s easy to romanticize the charm of Pipers Lagoon and Shack Island, the area has a long and complex history. The shacks date back to the early 1900s, originally used by whalers and later by fishermen trying to survive the Great Depression of the 1930s. Before European settlement, the area was a traditional hunting ground of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. In 1907, the Pacific Whaling Company established a processing factory here, targeting whales caught in the Strait of Georgia. That first year, the factory reached its peak, processing 112 humpback whales. As local populations declined, the company moved its operations north.

In 1917, the Piper family purchased the land intending to use it for agriculture. During this time, a small but thriving community developed on Shack Island, which was owned by the Piper family. When Philip J. Piper passed away in 1955, the land was sold, and Shack Island residents were encouraged to demolish or abandon their homes and relocate within Nanaimo city limits. Over the following years, ownership of the land became a matter of debate. Eventually, the area - including Pipers Lagoon, Neck Point, and Shack Island - was sold to land developer and politician Deane Finlayson. Although he proposed several development projects, all were rejected by the remaining Shack Island residents and their supporters. In 1973, Finlayson sold the land once more, and it was designated as regional waterfront parkland. Today, the shacks on Shack Island remain in the hands of descendants of the original families. By law, the homes cannot be sold off or further developed. Eventually, the shacks will fade with time and age, but for now, Shack Island remains a quirky charm along Nanaimo’s waterfront.

After our time concluded with Smoke/Squirrel and their friend, Kula decided to continue northward. Shortly after reaching the shores of Lantzville, we stumbled into humpback soup! There were plenty of humpback blows on the horizon, making it hard to choose just one whale to watch! Upon identification of the humpbacks, they turned out to be Ocular (BCX1705), Watson/Cerulean (BCY1461), and Wisp (BCY1464). Ocular is the 2016 calf of Slash/Humpless (BCY0177), Watson is the 2021 calf of Split Fluke (BCX1068), and Wisp is the 2021 calf of Ghost (BCX1333). Between August 2017 and June 2018, Ocular sustained significant scarring at the base of their tail flukes. This injury was likely caused by an entanglement with ghost fishing gear (abandoned or lost fishing equipment) or ocean pollution, which continues to pose a serious threat to marine life. In the photos below, you can see large, round bunches of scar tissue between Ocular’s tail fluke and peduncle, which are lasting effects of this entanglement. While various protective measures have been introduced to help safeguard humpbacks, entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with boats remain the leading causes of injury and death for the whales that migrate to British Columbia. Historically, the greatest threat came from commercial whaling, which is estimated to have reduced the local humpback population by 90% by the time it ended in the 1960s and 70s. Fortunately, thanks to ongoing conservation efforts, humpback whale numbers are now on the rise, offering hope for a healthier, more resilient future!

While the humpbacks were the highlight of the trip, our crew and guests also enjoyed some time with some Steller Sea Lions and harbour seals.
Steller Sea Lions are bold and intimidating creatures. Males can reach up to 11 feet in length and weigh as much as 2,500 lbs, making them the largest sea lion species in the world. Unlike seals, they have large, visible ear flaps, robust front flippers, and unfused pelvic bones that allow them to “walk” on land by rotating their hind flippers underneath them. Steller Sea Lions exhibit a trait called sexual dimorphism, where males grow 2-3 times larger than females, a crucial advantage during the breeding season, which begins mid-May and runs through mid-July. During this time, dominant males claim and defend harems of females on rocky haul-outs. Incredibly, these males will fast and remain on land, without entering the water to feed, for the entire two-month period!

Harbour Seals are quite small compared to sea lions. They grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh around 280 lbs. When not napping on rocks during the day, these nocturnal hunters rely on sensitive whiskers to hunt. Their whiskers are packed with nerve endings to detect vibrations from prey like small schooling fish, squid, and octopus. As “true seals,” they belong to a different evolutionary lineage than sea lions. One of the key differences lies in their anatomy: true seals lack external ear flaps (pinnae) and have smaller front flippers. Their pelvic bones are fused, which limits their ability to move on land, but it gives them a powerful advantage in the water. This adaptation enhances thrust and agility, crucial when evading their primary predator: the killer whale.

In addition to marine mammals, some birds also competed for our attention. The species documented include Bald Eagles, Double-Crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants!

All the photos below were taken by our Marine Naturalist Hayleigh Hilbert. Enjoy!

June 26, 2025, 3:30 PM - A Handful of Humpbacks!