Record Year For Whale Sightings In The Salish Sea

WASHINGTON — 2022 was a banner year for sightings of humpbacks and Bigg's killer whales in Washington and British Columbia, including a new daily record, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

The PWWA operates tours year-round and said Bigg's killer whales and humpback whales were by far the most frequently seen last year, with sightings recorded on nearly 280 days of each. Gray whales were seen on 200 days, and minke whales on 158 days.

According to the Orca Behavior Institute, whale watchers and scientists reported more than 1,200 unique sightings of Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea last year, besting 2021's record by 154. The region also set a new single-day record of 70 Bigg's killer whales spotted in a single day from Hood Canal to Vancouver Island.

According to researchers, the coastal Bigg's population continues to grow, adding 10 calves last year for a total of 370. Unlike endangered Southern Resident orcas that rely on Chinook salmon to survive, Bigg's populations feed on marine mammals.

At the same time, the PWWA said, the "humpback comeback" is well underway, with the Salish Sea fast becoming one of the best places to spot them. Nearly 400 humpbacks were photographed last year, the highest number in the past century, including almost three dozen mothers with calves.

"2022 was a memorable year full of record sightings and dozens of new calves," said Erin Gless, the organization's executive director. "20 years ago, it was rare to see humpbacks or Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea. Now, we see them almost every day. It really demonstrates what's possible if animals have an ample food supply."