Whale-Watching Activities in the Banc-des-Américains

Olivier Cloutier, Whale Watch Captain, Cap aventure: When I was young, I was taught a little phrase: learn to know, know to love, and love to protect.

We are lucky to have the opportunity to take people out to sea, to witness ecosystems, animals, and by raising awareness, we enable people to understand how crucial their role is in this.

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Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area – Whale-Watching Activities

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Jean Roy, President, Croisières baie de Gaspé: Over my 25-year career in this field, I've developed a passion for spotting whales each morning before cruises. I think it's vital for the success of subsequent expeditions.

Narrator: The Banc-des-Américains is a marine protected area jointly created by the Canadian and Quebec governments, located off the eastern tip of Gaspésie. It is associated with the Gaspé Current, transporting nutrients, plankton, and krill, making the area a vibrant and food-rich habitat for numerous marine mammal species

Renée Gagné, Senior Biologist, Marine Planning and Conservation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada: The Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area has three conservation objectives. The first is to preserve and protect benthic habitat, referring to the seafloor.

The second objective is to protect pelagic habitat, which is the water column, as well as forage species, which are small fish that serve as prey for certain fish and whales species.

The third objective aims to promote the recovery of species at risk such as the North Atlantic right whale, the blue whale, and the fin whale.

Mélissa Martel, Project Manager, Marine Mammal Observation Network: Whales enter the gulf and estuary after a long migration. They return to replenish their fat reserves. Sometimes, they arrive with a calf, so it's crucial to maintain a distance to allow them to carry out their essential activities.

Jean Roy: Approaching whales requires utmost respect and a slow pace, considering we're in their environment.

Olivier Cloutier: Therefore, giving them time and space is crucial. They often approach us when we're stationary, rather than the other way around.

Narrator: In the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area, as well as in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Marine Mammal Regulations stipulate that boats must maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from whales, porpoises, and dolphins, and 200 meters when they are in a resting phase or accompanied by their calves..

Jean Roy: We have been part of the Marine Mammal Observation Network for several years. This organization aims to raise awareness about whale conservation.

Olivier Cloutier: We collect data for the Marine Mammal Observation Network using tablets and software that allow us to identify species, determine their numbers, and note the presence of calves.

Mélissa Martel: Whale watching tours navigating in less frequented areas, such as the Banc-des-Américains, occasionally have the opportunity to make rare observations that contribute to supplementing existing databases.

Renée Gagné: The data from whale watching tours informs us about the behaviour and movements of marine mammals in the Banc-des-Américains area. It is also a valuable indicator of the health of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the species at risk residing there.

Olivier Cloutier: When you love what you do, you don't lose that passion, and we see the same spark in all the clients we bring to the Banc-des-Américains.

Jean Roy: When there are many whales around, if there's no wind, that's when we turn off the engines. A blue whale is 200 meters away, and you can hear it go “PFRRRSHHH”. People absolutely love it.

Narrator: Whale-watching activities contribute to public awareness and promotes appropriate observation behaviour, which supports whale conservation in the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area for the benefit of our coastal communities and the diverse ecosystems of the St. Lawrence.