California Current Killer Whale Study

August 2026 - Willapa Submarine Canyon

Our ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance team specializes in the study of killer whales in Pacific open ocean ecosystems.

During an August pelagic seabird expedition out of Westport Washington, R. Merrill encountered a lone adult male killer whale over the deep pelagic waters of the Willapa Submarine Canyon. Our research team was able to identify this whale as OCT117 (aka. Master Chief) - an infrequently encountered outer coast transient killer whale that frequents the outer continental slope.

Our research team last encountered OCT117 on October 22, 2025 in Juan de Fuca Strait.

A huge thank you to R. Merrill for sharing photographs with our research team.

If you have photographs of killer whales and would like to share them with our research team, please email [email protected]


ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
Westport Seabirds
Oregon Pelagic Tours
NOAA Fisheries West Coast

Port Angeles, WA - July 27, 2026

Our ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance team received an exciting report of a group of west coast transient killer whales that entered Port Angeles Harbor on July 27th.

What makes this report exciting is that we were able to identify three of the whales as members of the OCT064 matrilineal group. This family belong to the outer coast subpopulation that frequents offshore waters of the continental shelf break, slope, and submarine canyons.

The family is led by the matriarch OCT064 (born. 1985). Her adult son OCT064C (born. 2000) and OCT064E (born. 2012) were also there.

Our researchers at ORA manage a catalog for transient killer whales frequenting offshore waters of the California Current. For more information about these whales visit our 2021 NOAA SWFSC catalog via the link below.
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/30740

Tofino, BC - June 14, 2026

Our research team headed west to the outer coast of Vancouver Island in early June in search of transient killer whales. The west coast of Vancouver Island is within the northern portion of the California Current.

On our first day on the water we were successful in encountering the T109s, a matrilineal group of five whales. This family is led by the matriarch T109 (born. ~1977). She travels primarily with her adult daughter T109D (born. 2007), who also has two offspring T109D1 (born. 2018) and T109D2 (born. 2021). Also in attendance was her son T109E (born. 2013).

This group was nearshore foraging at a number of rock islands and reefs along the exposed coast near Tofino, BC. This rocky area had a large number of Steller sea lions that were observed both on land and in the water. The T109s circled and surfaced within meters of the sea lions in relatively shallow water. However, we did not observe a predation event.


ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries

June 8, 2026 - Transient Killer Whale Encounter

On June 8th, members of the Oceanic Research Alliance team encountered two transient killer whales, T077 (born. 1981) and her adult daughterT077D (born. 2009), actively hunting in the Juan de Fuca Strait.

After a coordinated pursuit, the pair successfully captured and killed a harbor seal—a powerful reminder of the specialized hunting strategies that define this ecotype of killer whale. Unlike fish-eating resident killer whales, transient killer whales prey exclusively on marine mammals, relying on stealth, cooperation, and years of learned experience to locate and capture prey.

Observations like these provide valuable insight into predator-prey dynamics, foraging behavior, habitat use, and the ecological role that transient killer whales play in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems along the Pacific coast.

While witnessing a predation event can be difficult for some to watch, it is an essential part of the natural balance of the ocean. Every successful hunt represents the transfer of energy through the ecosystem and highlights the incredible adaptations of one of the ocean's most efficient apex predators.


ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance

Wonderful news for the Southern Resident killer whale population!

NOAA Fisheries and the Center for Whale Research have announced the sighting of a new calf, **L130**, travelling with L Pod. Based on initial observations, the calf is estimated to be between 1 and 3 months old. Additional sightings will help researchers determine the calf's s*x and maternity.

Every new calf is an important milestone for this endangered population. Southern Resident killer whales face numerous challenges, including reduced prey availability, vessel disturbance, and environmental contaminants. The survival of each calf plays a critical role in the future recovery of this iconic population.

In the California Current, Southern Residents are a familiar and treasured part of our marine ecosystem. Sightings from southern British Columbia to the central coast of California remind us of both the resilience of these whales and the importance of continued research, conservation, and stewardship throughout their range.

Congratulations to the Center for Whale Research on documenting this exciting addition to L Pod. We look forward to following L130's journey in the years ahead.

Photo Credit: Center for Whale Research

We’ve got some exciting news to share!

The Oceanic Research Alliance is now officially registered as a Canadian non-profit society.

Over the past few years, our work has grown across the west coast, and establishing a Canadian non-profit has been an important step in supporting long-term, locally focused research and conservation—especially here in the northern sector of the California Current off southern British Columbia.

With this, ORA now holds non-profit status in both the United States and Canada. This allows us to better support projects on both sides of the border while strengthening our presence here at home off the central coast of California.

For us, this isn’t just paperwork—it’s about building something lasting. It means more opportunities for local collaboration, community-based research, and long-term monitoring of the ecosystems we care about.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported this work along the way.

https://www.oceanicresearchalliance.org/

ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
Neptune Wildlife Tours
NOAA Fisheries West Coast
NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

New 2026 Protection Measures for Southern Resident Killer Whales

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has announced updated management measures aimed at protecting Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) in British Columbia waters.

One of the most significant updates: All vessels must now stay at least 1,000 metres away from Southern Resident killer whales throughout much of southern BC coastal waters — including areas between Campbell River and north of Ucluelet.

These measures are designed to reduce:
• Acoustic disturbance from vessel noise
• Physical disruption to foraging and social behaviour
• Cumulative stress on this endangered population

For those of us working on the water, this is a major change and reinforces the importance of responsible vessel operation around whales.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize:
Different killer whale populations (e.g., transient/Bigg’s vs. resident) have different ecologies and conservation needs
Accurate identification in the field is critical for compliance
Continued education and outreach will be key to making these measures effective

From a research perspective, these regulations highlight just how important it is to better understand killer whale distribution, habitat use, and population structure across the coast.

We encourage all mariners, researchers, and wildlife viewers to familiarize themselves with the updated rules and help contribute to the protection of these iconic animals.

If you’re unsure which whales you are encountering — slow down, keep your distance, and err on the side of caution.


ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Parks Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

We need your help!

Our small research boat, Tl’uk, has been an important part of our work studying transient (mammal-eating) killer whales along the Pacific coast.

We named the vessel after a very special whale—T046B1B, a rare all-white transient killer whale whose story continues to inspire our research.

What Happened
Our outboard engine has failed and can’t be repaired. Without it, we’re unable to get out on the water to do our fieldwork.

What We Need
We’re trying to raise:
$5,000 to purchase a reliable replacement engine and get Tl’uk back in operation.

Why It Matters
Time on the water is everything for our work.
This vessel allows us to:

Track and photograph killer whales
Document behaviour and movements
Study groups that are still poorly understood
Contribute to long-term research and conservation

Losing access to the boat means losing valuable time in the field.

How You Can Help
If you’re able to contribute, it would mean a lot to our team.

Even small donations help. If donating isn’t possible, sharing this post makes a big difference too.

From Us to You
Tl’uk is more than just a boat. It’s part of how we do our work and connect with the ocean. We named it after a whale we’ll never forget. Now we’re hoping to keep that name—and what it stands for—out on the water.

Thank you for your support.

About ORA
The Oceanic Research Alliance is a registered U.S. non-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of marine mammals along the Pacific coast.

Learn More / Donate https://gofund.me/2118a86b6
www.oceanicresearchalliance.org or send us a message directly.


ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)