Pacific Whale Watch Association 2025 Sightings and Sentinel Actions

2025 Summary

The PWWA App received a total of 50,323 reports in 2025, and increase of 12.0% over 2024's total of 44,933 reports. 37,535 (74.6%) reports came from PWWA captains, naturalists, crew members, and support staff, and 12,788 (25.4%) reports came from authorized non-PWWA users of the PWWA App.

Bigg’s killer whales were reported to the PWWA App on 342 days of 2025, more than any other whale type. Humpback whales were reported on 314 days, minke whales on 154 days, and gray whales on 147 days. Northern Resident killer whales were reported on 111 days, and Southern Resident killer whales on 93 days. When including only GPS entries made from aboard PWWA vessels during whale watch tours, Bigg’s killer whales were reported on 289 days, humpbacks on 269 days, minke whales on 141 days, gray whales on 114 days, Northern Resident killer whales on 71 days, and Southern Resident killer whales on 38 days.

In 2025, PWWA members documented a total of 1,429 sentinel actions. Vessel-related sentinel actions were most common, with 913 interventions reported (63.9% of total sentinel actions). This included 531 reactive interactions and 382 proactive interventions. Marine debris removals accounted for 472 sentinel actions (33.0%), and balloons were the most common debris retrieved, collected during 224 (47.5%) sentinel actions. Incidents classified as "other", such as reporting entangled or injured marine life, made up the remaining 44 (3.1%) sentinel actions.

For the 913 vessel-related sentinel actions documented in 2025, PWWA members observed a positive change in vessel behavior following 659 interventions (72.2%). Recreational vessels were the most frequently contacted category of vessel, involved in 690 (75.6%) sentinel actions. August was the busiest month for sentinel actions, with 309 sentinel actions documented overall.

Law enforcement vessels or aircraft were recorded as being present by PWWA members during whale encounters on 105 days of 2025. Of 31,398 GPS reports to the PWWA App made by PWWA members, law enforcement was reported as being present in 352 (1.1%) entries. Law enforcement was most likely to be observed with Bigg’s killer whales and humpback whales, documented in their vicinity on 83 days and 34 days respectively. Law enforcement was most likely to be observed during late spring, summer, and early fall, and least likely to be observed during the winter months.

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Citation

Gless, E.J., Krieger, J. (2026). Pacific Whale Watch Association 2025 Sightings and Sentinel Actions. Pacific Whale Watch Association Annual Report, pp. 1-36