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Enormous whales, belugas and seals are found in the
St. Lawrence River. These marine mammals are drawn by the abundant food found
in these waters, as are the hundreds of thousands birds
living in the area. Fish and shellfish are caught
as food by humans, though quotas are established to prevent overfishing. Did you
know that laws exist to protect endangered animals, plants
and habitats? And there are many fun facts
to learn about the river!
Do whales come to the St. Lawrence River to pay a social call to their cousins,
the belugas, who live in the seaway year-round? Maybe, but these get-togethers
are generally an excuse to enjoy a feast served on a banquet table stretching
all the way along the North Shore, from Tadoussac to Natashquan. As for the seals,
they prefer to sun themselves on rocks or entertain the public with their antics...
When whales come to visit
Impressive guests swimming in the St. Lawrence
River
Every summer, whales come from the Atlantic Ocean to visit their distant
cousins, the belugas, that live in the St. Lawrence River with the
seals. But are the whales really dropping by to make a social call?
If truth be told, they are here solely because of the abundant food
provided by the Labrador Current, a cold water current from the Arctic
that travels up the St. Lawrence all the way to the Saguenay Fjord
at Tadoussac.
Whales arrive in the spring to eat the plentiful food and depart in
the fall once they have fattened up! The more food a whale eats, the
thicker its layer of fat, or blubber, becomes. When it returns to
the Atlantic for the winter, the whale will live off its stored fat.
Whales are finally the stars of the show
For a long time, little was known about the whales of the St. Lawrence
until about twenty years ago, when researchers began studying them
in earnest and whale-watching became a popular activity. Some whales
make impressive leaps into the air, much to the delight of their human
audience. Others exhale a spectacular plume of spray at the surface
of the water before taking a deep breath and diving in search of food.
Hunted for centuries for their blubber, whales are still being followed
by people in boats trying to get a good shot—except the "weapons"
being used are cameras and not harpoons! It looks like these marine
mammals got the last laugh…
St. Lawrence regulars
Whales have distinctive traits and often scars that can be used to
tell them apart. By identifying these unique markings, researchers
can tell which whales return to the St. Lawrence year after year.
Each identified whale has a nickname, some of which are cute or funny.
For example, one whale is called Guimauve, which is French for marshmallow,
and another Grand Galop, the French name for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon
character Quick Draw McGraw. You can even adopt a whale if you want!
Whales face many dangers
Some whales return to the St. Lawrence every summer, while others
prefer "greener pastures", so to speak! But when one of
the regulars does not return, the researchers begin to get worried.
Maybe that whale died during the year? Despite their size and strength,
a whale can be killed after being hit by a freighter or if it gets
tangled in a fishing net or underwater telecommunications cable. Did
you know that a whale can choke to death after swallowing a plastic
bag? The diseases and cancer caused by the polluted water and contaminated
food represent an even bigger danger.
Whales, like musicians, have an "ear for
music"
Did you know that whales find their way by echolocation? This means
they emit a high-pitched sound underwater that, after striking an
object, is reflected back to the whale, giving it information about
the size, speed and texture of the object in question. This guidance
system is precise and allows whales to find their way around the sea.
Whales do have eyes, but do not really use them in the depths, where
it is dark. To compensate, whales have developed excellent hearing!
Whale hunting banned
Hunting belugas and other whale species has been banned in Canada
since 1979. This ban was timely, as most species of whales were facing
extinction as a result of being ruthlessly hunted for centuries.
Whale-watching cruises
Whale-watching cruises depart from Tadoussac and several North Shore
villages. The cruise can either be in a larger vessel or a zodiac,
an inflatable water craft. Sometimes, a naturalist-guide comes along
on the cruise or whale-watching safari, during which you may see fin
whales, sperm whales, belugas or dolphins! If you are really lucky,
you may see the world's largest mammal: the blue whale, which is sometimes
called the sulphur-bottom whale. This animal measures nearly 30 m
(99 feet) long and weighs up to 160 tonnes!
A whale-watching cruise ship cannot approach whales too closely! The
captain must respect the rules stating that a ship cannot interfere
with the whales' activities. After all, the whales are not on vacation!
To learn more about the whales in the St. Lawrence
Biologists and researchers have been studying the whales in the St.
Lawrence for over twenty years, and they are pleased to share their
findings with the public.
A group of researchers based in Tadoussac have set up a Web
site containing a lot of information about the 13 species of whales
living in the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. On this site, you are sure
to find the answers to your questions about these marine mammals,
such as does a whale sleep? Do whales have eyes? Does a mother whale
nurse her young? The site also has general information about each
type of whale.
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