Vancouver Aquarium scientists are hoping Squamish residents’ smartphones will play a key role in their research.
For more than 40 years, researchers have been asking the public to help them by reporting their sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles. Monitoring marine life whereabouts aids in the development of conservation measures to protect them. But with more than 25,000 kilometres of coastline to keep an eye on, it’s a big job.
Last week, that task became a little easier as the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre unveiled a new WhaleReport app for citizens to report whale sightings.
“The app allows users to report using smartphones or tablets, devices most people carry almost everywhere,” the sighting network’s coordinator Tessa Danelesko stated in a news release.
Howe Sound is an area of interest for researchers, Danelesko told The Squamish Chief. Dolphin activity has increased in the sound over the past few years, she noted.
“We’ve definitely had huge support from the people who live in and around Howe Sound,” Danelesko said.
A person doesn’t have to be in mobile range to use the app; sightings can be logged offline and submitted later. The app also features automatic recording of the date, time and location, plus the option of including a photo from the device’s camera.
“You might be on a boat, walking along the cliff tops or paddling your kayak out on the water,” Danelesko said. “With boating and ecotourism ramping up at this time of the year, we encourage everyone to download the free app and help us monitor the cetaceans and sea turtles that live along our coast.”
The BC Cetacean Sightings Network is in its 15th year. The network has more than 4,000 ‘citizen scientists’ and a database of more than 83,000 sighting reports.
Besides downloading the WhaleReport app, you can report a sighting by calling 1-866-I SAW ONE or by emailing a sighting to sightings@vanaqua.org.
