Prince of Whales vessels maintain safe viewing distances from whales
VICTORIA – Thanks to conservation efforts, there are now around 400 humpback whales in the Salish Sea – way up from the 60-70 that used to be known to frequent the waters around Vancouver Island.
“More humpbacks are returning to this region each year, and it is vital to allocate more funding to support environment and restoration, which is really key to the continued survival of the species,” says Elspeth McGillivray, General Manager at Prince of Whales. “Our passion towards marine wildlife has made us successful.”
Prince of Whales also has locations in Vancouver and Telegraph Cove on northern Vancouver Island, and has expanded its operations to meet demand, as the company now has three Salish Sea Catamarans available to take guests out on the water. They have the largest wildlife viewing fleet in BC with 15 boats, including 10 Zodiacs and 2 Ocean Magic Cruisers. “We’re taking out hundreds of travelers per day,” she adds. “Having three locations allows us to cater to the whole province. The BC coast is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world, and we are fortunate to share that with our guests.”
Spectacular sights are regular occurrences on Prince of Whales excursions
Prince of Whales is an industry leader in sustainability and is Biosphere Certified, working towards increased operational sustainability and helping to achieve the 17 Sustainability Goals developed by the United Nations. A founding member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, they are a certified Climate Positive company by committing to offset at least 110% of their carbon emissions.
They are also a member of 1% For the Planet, which means they contribute at least 1% of annual sales to local conversation initiatives. Last year, the company donated $130,000 to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and $30,000 to support Ocean Wise.
“We are the sole sponsor of Ocean Wise’s killer whale feeding research in BC,” she notes. “The researchers are studying what endangered killer whales consume during the winter months, ways to preserve their food supply and boost their population.”
Prince of Whales crew searching for wildlife
Prince of Whales’ catamarans are larger heated boats that hold 95 passengers, departing from the Victoria harbor across from the Empress Hotel. Prince of Whales packages include Zodiac tours, half-day tours, and stunning sunset whale watching on their luxurious Salish Sea Catamarans. Guests typically see humpbacks and killer whales (orcas), as well as sea lions and bald eagles, amongst other wildlife. They offer a whale sightings guarantee, inviting guests to join them for another tour at any of their locations if they don’t see a whale – which is an extremely rare occurrence.
“As federally mandated, and out of respect for the animals, we view Bigg’s killer whales from a distance of 200 meters, and humpback whales from 100 meters”, adding that they do not watch the endangered southern resident killer whales. “It is amazing to see the Transient (Bigg’s) killer whales and Humpback populations thriving, and the guests are always filled with awe and merriment” she notes.
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