The boundary waters of the U.S. San Juan and Canadian Gulf islands, known as the Salish Sea, are one of the highest density whale-watching areas in the world. The boating traffic is high in the peak whale-watching season of May--September, not only for watching whales but for other activities such as sailing, kayaking and fishing.

The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program was created to respond to that traffic and its effects on marine species.

Although known primarily for educating whale-watching boaters, Soundwatch also patrols the boundaries of marine protected areas, such as National Wildlife Refuges and Bottomfish Recovery Zones, and conducts bird surveys. The Soundwatch boat is also used for responding to strandings of marine mammals.

For a detailed program description and history of Soundwatch, click here. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read this file.)

Soundwatch Topics

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Whale Watching Education >>
National Wildlife Refuge Patrols >>
Bottomfish Recovery Program >>
Bird Surveys >>
Marine Mammal Stranding Network>>
Whale Watching in the San Juan Islands >>
Whale Watching Guidelines >>

Soundwatch Downloads

2006 Notices for Boaters

The Soundwatch Boater Education Program updates boaters on advisory notices relative to marine wildlife and research in the San Juan area. Download 2006 Boater Notices here.

NOAA Small Vessel Permitted Research 2006
Marine Mammal Strandings

Boater Education Guidelines and Marine Stewardship Area Maps

The Soundwatch Boater Education Program promotes responsible boating practices for boaters and kayakers in the San Juan/Haro Strait Region. Download boater guidelines and marine stewardship area maps here.

KELP Kayakers Guidelines and Map
West Side San Juan Island Voluntary No Motor Boat Zones
San Juan County Marine Stewardship Area Map
San Juan National Wildlife Refuge Areas Map

Boater Education Slide Shows

The Soundwatch Boater Education Program offers Marine Stewardship Trainings to a variety of different commercial and recreational boating and kayaking clubs and organizations. Download Slide Shows of the 2006 Soundwatch Boater Education Be Whale Wise Program and the Kayaker Marine Stewardship Training.

2006 Soundwatch Be Whale Wise Slideshow
KELP Kayak Marine Stewardship Slide Show

Soundwatch Program Reports

The Soundwatch Boater Education Program generates annual program activity reports and vessel data reports characterizing vessel trends Southern Resident killer whales. You can view these reports and recent papers that have been presented here.

2004 Soundwatch Vessel Trends Report 1998-2003
2005 Puget Sound Reseach Conference Paper Evolution of Adaptive Mangagement
2005 Soundwatch Data and Collection Methods
2005 SW Program Activities Report
2006 Soundwatch Vessel Trends Update Report 2004-05

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