Marine Education & Research Society

There's still space in our Port McNeill Marine Mammal Naturalist Course! Join us where it all began, our core study area on Northern Vancouver Island.

Aim: reach those who can amplify knowledge, skills, and ethics for greater marine conservation. #Whale #WhaleSchool

mersociety.org/courses-events

We are hiring for the summer!
www.mersociety.org/about/careers.
Please share with those you think would thrive on our Team.

Will work in Port McNeill, on NE Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in the Traditional Territory of the Kwak̕wala-speaking People.

#JobPosting #ForTheWhales #Whale

Big impact, small moments, and everything in between.

Every year, our Annual Report features MERS by the Numbers - a mix of meaningful milestones and a little fun. Here’s what 2025 looked like for us.

See the full 2025 Annual Report at mersociety.org/news-media/a...

#Whale #marinemammal

Video: September 9, 2025 with telephoto lens ©MERS, MML-57 in the traditional territories of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw (the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples).

We don't know but it COULD be you are here looking for a little escape from holiday bustle? Maybe you're even seeking distraction from the fa la la of family togetherness?

Here's, a gift for you. Watch some Pacific White-sided Dolphins.

You're welcome. 💙

Whale School!
These are the only 2 Marine Mammal Naturalist Courses we will be doing in 2026.
Details at mersociety.org/courses-events

If wanting to join, please be sure to mark your calendars to register on January 12

#WhaleSchool #WhaleSchool2026 #ForTheWhales #MarineMammalsofBC #Whale

Opportunity for national reach on how to reduce risk of vessel strike. You can help by educating others about Humpback behaviour, signs of presence, and measures to reduce risk of collision.

We are at the 1-hour mark at www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

Free, online course www.WhaleSafeBoating.org

We also presented on the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration's research into Humpback Whale site fidelity in British Columbia waters.

We presented on our "See a Blow? Go Slow!" campaign and the content of our free, online Whale-Safe Boating course. If you took part in our recreational boater survey and/or have taken the course, you have helped with this work hashtag#ForTheWhales. www.WhaleSafeBoating.org

An honour.
Humpback Whale World Congress - an award was given to a presenter in each of the 8 sessions.

So grateful for this recognition and opportunity - sharing efforts to reduce threats with an international audience.

#WhaleSafeBoating #BoaterEducation #HWWC #HWCC2025 #SeeABlowGoSlow #whale

Sharing celebration and inspiration with you.
Please see our 15th anniversary photo essay at the link below.
See mersociety.org/news-media/h...

Many of you have been part of this journey #ForTheWhales.

Thank you.
#Whale #MarineConservation

It's World Orca Day.
All Orca populations in BC waters are at risk.

Let #WorldOrcaDay be the day you sign up for the free, online #WhaleSafeBoating Course.
www.WhaleSafeBoating.org

Because why on earth wouldn't you?

#BoaterSafety
#Orca
#ForTheWhales

This was so good!
Recording of today's Sperm Whale presentation by our own Dr. Felicia Vachon - now available for you. youtu.be/TB5NsO4W4sE.

Yes, there are Sperm Whales off the coast of BC.

#OceanDay #OceanDay2025 #Whale #SpermWhales #WhaleResearch #ForTheWhales #MarineBiology #MarineEducation

Our summer staff training includes the services of support dog, Kai. 💙 🐕 ☺️
_______

#dogsforwhales
#dog #FacesofMERS

Oh, Wyatt, thank you!
Wyatt came by our office with a gift. He recently undertook cleaning up around Nimpkish Lake. He got deposit $ from the bottles and cans he took out of the environment and wanted us to have the $.

How this lifts us up, and propels us on.

#ForTheWhales and #ForTheFuture

Webinar recording & resources - Whale Report Alert System / WRAS.
clearseas.org/insights/bey...

By using the Whale Report App, you alert large, verified vessel traffic for the purposes of avoiding collision and noise impacts.

Get app
ocean.org/action/send-...

#WhaleSafeBoating #SeeABlowGoSlow

#HowWild
Contest to help shift the culture, language, and imagery of marine mammal viewing and photography from “how close” to “how wild”.

Partnership with Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective

Background & winners mersociety.org/news-media/a...

#Wildlifephotgraphy #ForTheWhales

Know the laws and best practices for #WhaleSafeBoating.

Sign up for the alert for when our free, online Whale-Safe Boating course will be available to YOU! www.SeeABlowGoSlow.org
__________

Whale sized thanks to Art By Di.

#SeeABlowGoSlow
#Whale #Humpback #BeWhaleWise

Our gift to you for Ocean Day!
Our own Dr. Felicia Vachon is a Sperm Whale expert. She'll give a free webinar about these astounding deep-dwelling neighbours who live in the waters of British Columbia.

More info/registration: www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticket...

#Whale #OceanDay2025 #OceanEducation

Media Matters | MERS Marine Education & Research Society The media plays a powerful role in marine mammal conservation. The imagery and text used can significantly influence: Recognizing the great importance of media and the challenges journalists and socia...

The photo is of Humpback Whale Ocular (BCX1705) when a first-year calf. Taken with telephoto lens ©MERS under Marine Mammal License MML-57 in the Territory of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw.

#MediaMatters
The recording of our webinar for those reporting, or posting, about marine mammals has now been bundled with additional resources.

See mersociety.org/news-media/a....

#ForTheWhales #EthicalAdvertising
#WhaleSafeBoating #wildlifephotography #journalism #whale #ecotourism

Catalogue photos of Constellation 2 (BCX1784) by MERS under Marine Mammal License MML-57 and Anthony Bucci (right flank).

Humpback calves stay with their moms for about a year. They so often have extraordinary site fidelity - migrating back and forth between the warm water breeding ground where they were born (Hawaii, Mexico, or Central America), and the cold water feeding ground where they learned to get fat fast.

Jan 5 - we saw Constellation 2 near Port McNeill.

By Feb 17, she made it to the breeding grounds of Hawaii and had a newborn calf. Known thanks to @pacwhaleecoadventures & @happywhale_official

When back in BC, mom will be hungry and calf will have a lot to learn.
#ForTheWhales #Migration #whale

Mandatory Fun
In this line of work, there's the threat of overwhelm/overwork. You know.

To help counter this, we have a team outing every ~3 months, known as #MandatoryFun.
March is yearend for many grant deliverables. It was so wonderful to have a break from work & enjoy one another's company.

Yesterday - Mandatory Fun!
What's Mandatory Fun? See comment.😀
It was so good to have the whole Team together with Felicia planning the activities - from eating pastries while watching evidence of the Herring spawn, to yoga, games by the fire, and poke bowl.

#FacesOfMERS #TeamBuilding

This research focuses on the Great Whale Conveyor Belt.
_____

Includes: "To our knowledge, these whales transport the highest quantities of carbon and nitrogen ever recorded by animals across thousands of kilometers."

See www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56123-2

#Whale

#HowWild
How about YOU?
Help shift the language and imagery of marine marine viewing in BC from "How close" to . . . "How Wild".

Photo & video contest

See mersociety.org/news-media/e...

Photo A34 matriline of Northern Residents ©MERS, Territory of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw.

#ForTheWhales
#Whale

#OceanDay with our own Dr Felicia Vachon. #SpermWhales live off the BC coast.

Adults very welcome too! Elementary school students the priority for discussion/answering questions.

Register: www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/free-ocean-day-webinar-sperm-whales-your-deep-dwelling-neighbours

#Whale

Today - filming for sections of our free, online #WhaleSafeBoating course
Sign up for alerts for when it will be launched to do its good in the world! 🙂
Go to www.SeeABlowGoSlow.org

Great thanks to Geoff Heith for the efficiency & fun.

#BoaterEducation #WhaleSafeBoating #ForTheWhales