Whale Watching in Alaska: Sustainable Tours Just Makes SENSE

The morning mist partially obscured the peaks lining Resurrection Bay as the Coastal Explorer pulled away from Seward. A bald eagle bid us farewell from his perch and a nearby sea otter floated peacefully in the harbor. The deckhands served fresh warm cinnamon rolls as we motored toward Kenai Fjords National Park.

Dressed for winter even though it was June, I boarded an eight-hour cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours with expectations of adventure. I was excited to learn that Kenai Fjords Tours, along with several other Alaskan cruise operators, promote sustainable whale watching by adhering to Whale SENSE guidelines.

Kenai Fjords Tours Photo: Kirsten Harrington

Whale SENSE – Champions of Responsible Whale Watching

Whale SENSE is a voluntary program that highlights commercial whale-watching companies that go above and beyond in protecting marine mammals. Having whale SENSE means these boats:

Stick to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) laws to not disturb marine mammals.
Educate staff and passengers on whale protection and marine conservation.
Notify authorities of entangled or injured marine mammals.
Set an example for other boaters.
Encourage ocean stewardship and ocean literacy.

Annually trained crews ensure that trips provide a high level of education and respect wildlife. Undercover inspectors occasional join tours as “secret passengers” to ensure compliance.

“We’re helping to set a higher standard of whale watching,” says Suzie Teerlink, Marine Mammal Specialist and program coordinator for Whale SENSE in Alaska. “We work with operators to encourage going above and beyond the regulations. Not just respecting their space, but also taking the initiative to be sensitive to whale behavior.”

Northwestern Glacier Photo Courtesy of Pursuit Alaska Collection

Whale Watching in Kenai Fjords National Park

After visiting a colony of sealions, and watching porpoises race beside the boat, we continued to the Northwestern Glacier. We drifted peacefully in front of tall blue walls of ice, taking in the serene beauty. Sudden explosions punctuated the silence as chunks of ice calved off the glacier, spraying powdery snow in all directions like fireworks.

With more territory to cover, we headed back into the Gulf of Alaska. Sighting fountain-like columns of spray on the horizon, the captain reduced speed to slowly approach the whales. In a rush of adrenaline, I grabbed my camera and headed outside.

“Now this is something we don’t see every day. There’s a whole crew coming up with their mouths open like buckets. They’re bubble-feeding,” Captain Lindstrom explained. He slowly approached a circle of 4 or 5 humpback whales, carefully maintaining a 100-yard distance.

Bubble-net feeding occurs when a group of whales gather in a circle and blow bubbles near the surface to trap the fish. It’s a learned behavior requiring cooperation among the whales, who eat up to 3,000 pounds of food a day during the summer.

The captain dropped a hydrophone into the water so we could hear the whales blowing bubbles underwater. We listened and watched as these 45-ton intelligent, social creatures gathered for lunch. They occasionally breached high in the air, fluking their tails as they dove. Seagulls circled above, waiting to pick up the scraps.

“There are great nature moments, and there are National Geographic moments. This is one of those,” Lindstrom said, explaining that bubble-feeding takes place during a short window in June and is a rare treat to witness.

Not only was it thrilling to watch, but bubble-net feeding was a good sign that the herring population had become vibrant again. This food source had been virtually wiped out by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Bubble Feeding Whales Breaching in Kenai Fjords National Park Photo: Kirsten Harrington

Whale Watching in Alaska is Making a Positive Impact

From elephant “sanctuaries” to drugged tigers in petting attractions, many animal encounters that claim to be beneficial really aren’t.

By following sustainable guidelines, whale watching creates a positive impact. Just remember: your presence should never change their behavior. And keep garbage – even apple cores – out of the ocean.

“This is a success story. How we’ve changed our behavior has brought back whales from near extinction,” said Lindstrom. He explained that whale watching tours now generate more money per whale than whale hunting ever did.

Tour operators trained in Whale SENSE educate inspire passengers to become advocates of whale conservation. After spending eight hours watching whales gather to feed, float near the surface to snooze, and flash their tales as they dive, it was easy to feel smitten.

Whale Tales

Did you know that you can identify a whale by the markings on its tail? Happy Whale is a global whale conservation organization that encourages tourists to interact with whales. If you’re lucky enough to capture a great shot of a whale tail, upload it to Happy Whale. Using technology similar to facial recognition, Happy Whale matches your photos to photos in their scientific collection.

Is the humpback you saw on vacation a mom on her way to give birth in warmer waters? Did you spot one with scars from a killer whale attack? You can learn your whale’s story or even adopt and name a whale. The more we know about an animal’s story, the more likely we are to want to protect it.

Tips for a Successful Alaska Whale Watching Tour

Being out on the water with the wind whipping through your hair makes 50-60 degrees feel frigid. Bring a warm coat, rain jacket, sunglasses, and a knit hat. Sturdy shoes with nonslip soles are a must as you move around the deck quickly to watch the action.

Bring phone and camera chargers and consider a pair of compact binoculars (or rent them onboard). I wish I had a wrist strap or lanyard for my phone; I was constantly worried about dropping it into the 900-feet deep water below.

Marine animals will startle at noises from the boat. Letting the door slam behind you as you go on deck or calling out to the animals hoping for their attention might scare them off. They’re sensitive to flash too, so set your camera accordingly.

An Unforgettable Memory

Watching a trio of humpback whales rise out of the deep Alaskan Ocean in unison yielded an experience I’ll never forget. As I replay the scene in my mind, it evokes the same emotions as viewing a total eclipse or seeing a double rainbow after a thunderstorm. I got a peek at Mother Nature’s glory.

A whale watching cruise in Alaska should be on every adventure traveler’s bucket list. If you go, choose one that follows Whale SENSE guidelines. You and these mighty sea creatures will both benefit.

Click Here for Discounted Accommodations in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula