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RESPONSIBLE ECOTOURISM - COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
Responsible tourism isn’t a label we apply to our marketing – it’s how we operate. Since our first season on the water, we’ve worked to ensure that every tour we run has a positive impact on the Salish Sea, the communities around it, and the wildlife that calls it home. From how we manage our vessels to where we direct our conservation dollars, doing the right thing by this place is built into everything we do.
A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Every decision we make, big or small, is guided by a commitment to doing right by the Salish Sea and the communities around it.
RESPONSIBLE WILDLIFE VIEWING
From day one, we’ve understood that being out on the water is a privilege. We take that seriously on every tour.
SUPPORTING RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
We actively support the science and conservation work that keeps the Salish Sea healthy for the wildlife and people who depend on it.
LEADERS IN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
For more than 30 years we’ve been working to ensure our business has a positive impact on the environment and the local community.
PROUDLY PROVIDING CARBON NEUTRAL TOURS
All Orca Spirit Adventures tours are carbon neutral. We offset our emissions through the Great Bear Rainforest Carbon Project – an Improved Forest Management initiative that protects old-growth forest on BC’s central coast that was previously slated for commercial logging. It is the first carbon project in North America established on traditional territory with unextinguished Aboriginal Rights and Title, and one we are proud to support.
We know that recognizing our footprint is just the first step. Our broader commitment is to continuously look for ways to reduce our impact – on the water, in our offices, and across everything in between.
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
Sustainable tourism means minimizing our impact while supporting the people and places around us. From carbon neutral tours to local hiring and proactive waste management, we work to make sure that every aspect of our operation leaves the Salish Sea and Victoria’s community better than we found it.
SUSTAINABLE DAILY OPERATIONS
We’re always looking for new ways to do better. That means purchasing locally sourced products, encouraging and rewarding staff who choose sustainable ways to get to work, and volunteering with local organizations focused on conservation. Small things add up.
GREEN MANAGEMENT PLAN
We’ve eliminated single-use plastics across our operations – no bottled water, no plastic bags. We monitor our water consumption and vehicle use, and use only environmentally friendly cleaning products on our vessels and in our offices. It’s an ongoing process and we’re always looking for the next improvement.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FEE
Every tour includes a $4 wildlife conservation fee that goes directly to marine conservation in the Salish Sea – supporting salmon restoration through the Pacific Salmon Foundation and Humpback Whale research through the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS). Since 2015, Orca Spirit guests have contributed more than $307,000 to the Pacific Salmon Foundation alone.
ORCA SPIRIT BEACH CLEANUPS
Every year we roll up our sleeves for the Earth Day Power Hour beach cleanup, removing plastics and debris from our local shoreline. Over the years we’ve pulled everything from plastic waste to an entire abandoned boat off the beach – and we’re proud of every bit of it.
COMMITTED TO RESPECTFUL WILDLIFE VIEWING
Orca Spirit Adventures is a proud member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), a coalition of operators across 19 ports in Washington State and British Columbia committed to the highest standards of responsible wildlife viewing.
Our tours cover a wide range of marine wildlife – Transient (Bigg’s) Orcas, Humpback, Minke and Gray Whales, Steller and California Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, Bald Eagles, and more. Every sighting is an opportunity to connect guests with the wild and deepen their understanding of the threats these species face.
Our captains follow PWWA best practice guidelines on every tour, including:
- Maintaining a minimum distance of 200 metres from Transient (Bigg’s) Orcas and 100 metres from all other whales
- Slowing to no more than 7 knots within 1 km of any whale
- Travelling parallel to whales at the same speed or slower
- Limiting time in the vicinity of any whale group to 60 minutes
- Shutting off all sonar, depth sounders, and underwater transducers when near whales
- Respecting all marine protected areas, including Go Slow Zones at Race Rocks
For the full PWWA guidelines, visit pwwa.com
RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING
- Maintain a distance of 200 meters from Bigg’s Transient orcas, 400m from Southern Resident orcas and 100 meters from all other whales in Canadian and US waters
- Operate at no more than 7 knots when within 1 km (0.65 mile) of a whale
- Travel at the same or slower speed as the whale’s speed, and travel parallel to the direction whales are traveling
- Limit time in the vicinity of a particular group of whales to 60 minutes
- Respect marine protected areas by adhering to Go Slow Zones and minimum distance guidelines around rocks, landmasses, historic sites and wildlife
- Turn off sonar, depth sounders, fish finders and other underwater transducers when in the vicinity of whales
- Get closer without disturbing marine life by using a camera with a zoom lens
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A vessel shall approach an area of known or suspected whale activity with extreme caution.
A vessel within 1 km or 0.65 mile of a whale is considered to be in the vicinity of whales and is required to abide by all of these Best Practices Guidelines as are relevant.
If a vessel operator is unaware of the whales’ location he/she must maintain a vigilant watch for whales at all times. Mere observation of whale watching vessels in the distance does not fulfill this responsibility, as individual whale may be encountered anywhere and at any time.
Maintaining a vigilant watch often includes significant speed reductions.
A vessel within the vicinity of whales – within 1 km (0.65 mile) of a whale – is considered to be in the slow zone and must operate at no more than 7 knots. This reduced speed zone shall also be observed when disengaging the vicinity of whales as well.
As the vessel approaches, the distribution of whales and the positioning of other viewing vessels should be surveyed. Communication with other member vessels is strongly encouraged at this point (on the designated marine radio frequencies).
A vessel shall limit its time in the vicinity of a particular group of whales on any one tour to 60 minutes.
Vessels should limit the amount of viewing time to a maximum of 30 minutes in the vicinity of whales on days when there are more than 10 PWWA vessels within 1 km of that particular group of whales. On these occasions vessels should spend more of their tour observing other marine wildlife in other locations and searching for other groups of whales.
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When approaching vessels already engaged in viewing a whale or group of whales, the vessel operator must ensure his vessel moves to the outside of the vessels already accompanying these whales, and head in a direction parallel to the direction these whales are traveling. This is meant to maintain existing view angles of all vessels previously on scene.
Vessels should maintain heading and speed equal to the whales at all times while paralleling.
A vessel’s speed should be the same as the whale’s speed or slower. However, when traveling slower than the speed of the whales, a vessel relinquishes its priority sequence. This technique is generally used to disengage the vicinity of whales when the intention is to break away and return to port. When leading a group of paralleling vessels engaged in viewing whales, that vessel should keep pace with whales as to not block any vessels behind them. Furthermore, that vessel should not shut down without adequate notice to the vessels following behind.
1. When whales are within 1/2 mile of shore, vessels should maintain a seaward position and not within 1/8 mile (220 yards) of any shoreline that the whales are traveling along.
2. All sonar, depth sounders, fish finders and other underwater transducers should be shut off whenever a vessel is in the vicinity of whales.
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Every PWWA driver will always operate in a manner respectful of other vessels and their passengers.
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To maintain PWWA captain certification, all PWWA drivers must complete required training once per season.
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Race Rocks
The Pacific Whale Watch Association has worked collaboratively with all stakeholders and the Canadian Government in the development of these Best Practices Guidelines for the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area, which apply equally to all vessels, whether commercial or private, whether intending to view wildlife of otherwise transiting the area.
Vessels will allow for a speed transition by slowing their approach to Race Rocks such that speed at 1/8th mile (220 yards) from any rock or landmass is reduced to minimal wake and wash, relative to the condition of the sea state at the particular time. This Go Slow Zone extends 1/8th mile (220 yards) around every rock and landmass in the Race Rocks area.
Vessels in the Go Slow Zone will remain as close to mid-channel as is practicable between the major rock outcroppings know as North Race Rock, West Race Rock and Helicopter Rock. While in the Go Slow Zone vessels will transit the area with the current whenever conditions are suitable to do so.
Vessels exiting the area will allow for a speed transition.
Vessels will remain outside all of the Go Slow Zone whenever Killer Whales are present in the Go Slow Zone.
West Side of San Juan Island
Vessels will remain a minimum of 1⁄2 mile (880 yards) from the light beacon of the Light House at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island when whales are in the vicinity.
Vessels will remain a minimum of 1⁄4 mile (440 yards) from the main shoreline of the west side of San Juan Island when between Mitchell Point to Cattle Point (facing south).
MORE INVOLVEMENT
Green Business Certification & Accreditations
We are proud to hold GOLD certification with Green Tourism Canada, the highest GREEN status with the Vancouver Island Green Business Certification, Biosphere Committed designation, and membership in 1% for the Planet – recognition we work hard to earn and maintain every year.