WWF-Canada participates in helping whales to co-exist with B.C.’s marine traffic

The field team for the Ships, Whales and Acoustics in Gitga’at territory (SWAG) project was on the water this past summer fixing or replacing hydrophones to hear and identify whale calls around Hartley Bay, British Columbia. The project uses the hydrophones and land-based visual observation to track whales and monitor their behaviour in the presence of different vessels. The goal is to develop ways to manage marine traffic so that local whale populations are unaffected, particularly as commercial shipping increases because of gas development and export. SWAG is a partnership of the Gitga’at Nation, the North Coast Cetacean Society, and WWF-Canada (a Green Marine supporter).