Click Here for 2019 Auction

This auction is directed at covering Marine Education & Research Society operating costs.

Please see below for a summary of our efforts for 2018, achieved with less than three full-time paid positions. Such efficiency is possible as a result of extensive volunteer efforts from our team and a broad community of support.

Highlights of work achieved by MERS in 2018: 
• 2,000+ data entries for sightings of Humpbacks; 
• 170 hours spent monitoring whales during commercial fisheries in case there is an entanglement and in order to better understand the risk; 
• 30 additional “See a Blow? Go Slow!” signs for strategic positioning on British Columbia’s coast (many more signs are needed); 
• 22 presentations on our research and reducing risks to whales, reaching more than 1,550 people from coastal BC; 
• Publishing our research on trap-feeding in Marine Mammal Science; 
• Publishing on Minke Whale acoustics in Bioacoustics - the International Journal of Animal Sound and its Recording; 
• Training more than 95 people at two Marine Naturalist Workshops to enhance the caliber of conservation information provided on our coast; 
• Continued work to understand the proportion of humpbacks that have been entangled in BC, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada; 
• Collaborating with colleagues also documenting Humpbacks off the coast of British Columbia to update the BC province-wide Humpback catalogue; and 
• Co-hosting an entanglement workshop with the Coastal Ocean Research Institute /Ocean Wise, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Sealife Response Rehabilitation and Research to help participants learn how to report, document and help assess entangled whales.

More info to come...

Marine Education and Research Society workshop on BC's whale species and seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises and otters too! Intensive training for those working (or hoping to work) as whale watch naturalists, kayak guides, park staff, or others interested in gaining a deeper knowledge of the natural history and conservation of BC's marine mammals. Bring sharp pencils and lots of notepaper! A certificate of participation will be provided to those who attend the full 3-day workshop. Aim of the workshop is to enable more people to inform and inspire marine mammal conservation.

Cost is $300 per person and, a spot is secured with at $200 deposit (non-refundable).  Final payment of $100 is due March 1st.  If you have any questions, please contact info@mersociety.org. 

Location: Marine Heritage Centre, Campbell River

May 3 

10 to 5:30 (2 x 15 minute breaks and a 1 hour lunch break) 

• Introductions
• Marine Biodiversity of BC - from plankton to giants
• The Value of Being a Marine Mammal Naturalist #1 (includes tips on effective interpretive delivery)
• Classification of Marine Mammals 
• Sea Otters - natural history and conservation concerns
• BC Killer Whale Populations - natural history and conservation concerns

May 4

9:00 to 5:30 (2 x 15 minute breaks and a 1 hour lunch break) 

• Dolphins and Porpoises - natural history and conservation concerns
• Seals and Sea Lions - natural history and conservation concerns
• Minke and Fin Whales - natural history and conservation concerns
• Grey Whales - natural history and conservation concerns

• The Return of Giants - MERS research into Humpback Whales

Optional activity:  Dinner - details will follow. 

May 5

9:00 to 4:30 

• Identifying Marine Mammals in the Field
• Man vs. Marine Mammal - summary of the complex human history with marine mammals
• Interpretation role play 
• Feedback and presentation of certificates

More info to come...

Marine Education and Research Society workshop on BC's whale species and seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises and otters too! Intensive training for those working (or hoping to work) as whale watch naturalists, kayak guides, park staff, or others interested in gaining a deeper knowledge of the natural history and conservation of BC's marine mammals. Bring sharp pencils and lots of notepaper! A certificate of participation will be provided to those who attend the full 3-day workshop. Aim of the workshop is to enable more people to inform and inspire marine mammal conservation.

Cost is $300 per person and, a spot is secured with at $200 deposit (non-refundable).  Final payment of $100 is due March 1st.  If you have any questions, please contact info@mersociety.org. 

May 31 

10 to 5:30 (2 x 15 minute breaks and a 1 hour lunch break) 

• Introductions
• Marine Biodiversity of BC - from plankton to giants
• The Value of Being a Marine Mammal Naturalist #1 (includes tips on effective interpretive delivery)
• Classification of Marine Mammals 
• Sea Otters - natural history and conservation concerns
• BC Killer Whale Populations - natural history and conservation concerns

June 1

9:00 to 5:30 (2 x 15 minute breaks and a 1 hour lunch break) 

• Dolphins and Porpoises - natural history and conservation concerns
• Seals and Sea Lions - natural history and conservation concerns
• Minke and Fin Whales - natural history and conservation concerns
• Grey Whales - natural history and conservation concerns

• The Return of Giants - MERS research into Humpback Whales

Optional activity:  Dinner - details will follow. 

June 2

9:00 to 4:30 

• Identifying Marine Mammals in the Field
• Man vs. Marine Mammal - summary of the complex human history with marine mammals
• Interpretation role play 
• Feedback and presentation of certificates