Whale and wildlife watching from our pontoon: what you can see and the rules
Seals, eagles, herons and the odd killer whale. How to watch wildlife on Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet without breaking the law or bothering the animals.
Indian Arm puts a lot of wildlife within reach of a day boat. You’ll see harbour seals on most trips. Bald eagles perch in the snags along the shore. Now and then, killer whales come in to hunt.
What you might see
- **Harbour seals:** common the length of the arm. Look for them hauled out on rocks at low tide.
- **Bald eagles and ospreys:** watch the tall dead trees along both shores.
- **Black bears:** often seen along the shoreline of the provincial park, especially near the head of the arm.
- **Killer whales:** rare but increasing. Read our history of whale sightings.
- **Jumping salmon:** in odd-numbered summers. See the pink salmon run.
The law on whales
Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations set minimum distances, and fines apply. Federal measures to protect Southern Resident killer whales have been changing, so we keep our rule simple and stricter than the minimum:
- Stay at least 400 metres from any killer whale, and never put the boat in its path.
- Stay at least 100 metres from any other whale, dolphin or porpoise.
- If a whale surfaces closer than that, slow down, put the engine in neutral and let it move away.
- Within a kilometre of whales, keep to slow speed and keep the noise down.
Check the current rules on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website before your trip, and report any whale you see to the BC Cetacean Sightings Network through the WhaleReport app.
Seals and birds
Give hauled-out seals plenty of room. If they lift their heads or start moving toward the water, you’re too close. Keep clear of nesting birds on the islands in spring.
Bring
- Binoculars, one pair per few people
- A camera with a zoom lens, so you can stay back
- Patience: cut the engine in a quiet spot and wait
Bird watchers should read our bird watching guide. Book the boat for a wildlife day.