Welcome to The Watch

We need to work together to help conserve Canada’s marine animals.  It is important that you know what to do when you come across a marine animal emergency.  In order for the regional networks of CMARA to respond to these emergencies, we count on you, the public, to report any incidents.

Most marine animals in distress are reported by members of the public:

icon-beach goaer

Beach-goers

icon-boater

Boaters

icon-paddler

Paddlers

icon-fisher

Fishers

icon-coastar resident

Coastal residents

icon-canadian coast

Canada’s coast residents

First heroes on the scene (people like you) are critical.  We’re so grateful when you or other responders call, that we created The Watch.

Knowing what to look for and what to do if you come across a marine animal emergency will make a big difference to marine animal conservation in Canada.

The Watch has all the information you need to know in a marine animal emergency.  Sign up for free and download The Watch 5 Steps and Identification Guide.  Watch our video, quiz your knowledge and learn more about marine animals.

We’re hoping that you’ll want to take action that will help your local coastal environment but also the amazing species that spend time in Canadian waters and internationally.

Do You Know What to Do in an Emergency?

Explore the sections below to learn more about marine animal emergencies, threats facing marine animals and how by joining The Watch you are contributing to marine conservation.

Let’s start the journey by testing your current knowledge. Take our 10 question quiz and test your knowledge about marine animals and what to do in a marine animal emergency.

Take the Marine Animal Quiz

Your Role as a Part of The Watch

If you come across what you think could be a marine animal emergency, follow these five steps to report the incident and start a response.

Officially join The Watch!  Sign up below and download the free 5 step guide and identification chart so you are always prepared in case of a marine animal emergency.  Fold the printed PDF perfectly for your wallet or download it for your device.

For your wallet



    For your device



      icone-CMARA

      Steps to report an incident

      A marine animal emergency could be an animal in distress, an injured animal, or a dead animal. If you come across what you think could be a marine animal emergency, follow these five steps to report the incident and start a response.

      icon-step 1

      Step 1: Call your regional authority as soon as possible

      icon-phone

      British Columbia

      1-800-465-4336 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hotline

      icon-phone

      Quebec

      1-877-722-5346 – Baleines en Direct

      icon-phone

      Maritime Provinces

      1-866-567-6277 – Marine Animal Response Society

      icon-phone

      Newfoundland and Labrador

      1-709-895-3003 or 1-888-895-3003 – Whale Release and Strandings

      icon-phone

      Anywhere in Canada

      1-800-465-4336 – DFO’s Observe, Record, and Report hotline

      icon-phone

      Anywhere in the U.S.A.

      1- 888-256-9840 – Marine Mammal Stranding and Entanglement Hotline

      icon-step 2

      Step 2:  Determine if the animal is alive or dead

      Is the animal moving? Is its blowhole opening and closing? Are its nostrils moving or can you feel breath coming from them?

      icon-step 3

      Step 3:  Identify the species

      What kind of marine animal is it? Consult the ID guide if necessary.

      icon-step 4

      Step 4:  Record observations

      • What is your location (GPS coordinates)?
      • What is the date and time of the incident?
      • How many animals are involved?
      • Describe the condition of the animal (whether it is alive or dead, its behavior, if it has any injuries, etc.).
      • Take photographs from multiple angles (full body shot, head, dorsal fin, tail, injuries or human interactions).
      icon-step 4

      Step 5:  Wait for further direction from the response network

      You may be asked to stay with the animal until the response team arrives, or record more information or perform other tasks.

      Remember: Do not touch the marine animal and maintain your distance. This is for your safety and the safety of the animal. Wild animals in distress are more unpredictable, and incorrectly executed responses can further injury and distress an animal.

      icone-CMARA

      Marine Animal Identification Guide

      The guide below can help you identify some important information regarding the animal involved in the emergency that you can communicate to the response network. You may not be able to confirm all of these characteristics, depending on the position of the animal and the species.

      1. Teeth

      icon-teeth-whale
      icon-teeth-dolphin
      icon-teeth-seal
      icon-teeth-turtle

      2. Blowholes or Gills

      icon-blowhole-single

      Single

      icon-blowhole-double

      Double

      icon-blowhole-gills

      Gills

      3. Body length

      icon-body_leanght-less then 10m

      Less than 10 metres in length

      icon-body_leanght-more then 10m

      Over 10 metres in length

      4. Head shape

      icon-headshape-pointed

      Pointed

      icon-headshape-rounded

      Rounded

      5. Pectoral Fin

      icon-pectorial_fin-whale
      icon-pectorial_fin-dolphin

      6. Colour patterns

      icon-patterns-brownish

      Brownish body

      icon-patterns-grey

      Gray colour with many barnacles

      icon-patterns-black white spots

      Black and white spots

      icon-patterns-black callosites

      Black body with white callosities

      icon-patterns-white

      White body

      7. Ear flaps

      icon-earflaps-present

      External ear flaps present

      icon-earflaps-absent

      External ear absent

      8. Shell (or carapace)

      icon-shell-stripped
      icon-shell-patterned
      icone-CMARA

      Marine Animal Response in Canada — How does it work?

      In the event of a marine animal emergency, there are four regional networks in Canada that respond to these incidents based on location.

      The four regional response networks within CMARA span both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and are made up of many organizations, including non-governmental organizations, volunteers and government agencies, within their regions. The networks are a collection of organizations comprised of specially trained and authorized individuals that can respond to marine animal emergencies in specific regions of Canada.

      icone-CMARA

      What is a marine animal response?

      A marine animal response is warranted when an animal is in distress, whether it is has suffered an injury, has stranded on a beach, become entangled in fishing gear or has been found dead. A response to a marine animal emergency can range from a simple investigation by a trained observer to a hands-on interaction by trained individuals with appropriate specialized training. In certain circumstances, experts will find that the animal can address their situation without human assistance, and at other times the most humane course of action is to let nature take its course.

      The response to a marine animal incident or emergency may consist of some or all of these three elements: Rescue, Research and Outreach.

      icone-CMARA

      What Species You May Find and How to Tell Them Apart

      Being able to identify the type of animal in distress can help marine animal responders properly prepare for the response. This information can also help you know how to spot wildlife and know what species you are looking at when you are on the coast!

      Threats to Marine Animals

      Marine animals can become distressed or die from natural causes, but they can also die due to human activities. The work of regional response networks contribute to documenting and understanding the threats to marine animals from human activity that can help prevent and mitigate future emergencies.