The Importance of Whale Heritage Areas
We are excited to announce the Santa Barbara Channel has become the 9th Whale Heritage Area in the world. This designation highlights the region’s commitment to promoting responsible ecotourism, providing more ocean educational opportunities, supporting on-going research and conservation efforts, and honoring the timeless cultural connection we have to whales, dolphins and porpoises.
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Stay up to date with the latest whale news, sightings, and science in the SBCWHA!
Celebrating Whales, Connecting Communities: The Success of our 3rd Annual Whale of a Celebration
What an incredible weekend! The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area (SBCWHA) was thrilled to welcome over 190 guests to the beautiful Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Historyfor our 3rd Annual Whale of a Celebration. This very successful event-filled celebration for the extraordinary whales and dolphins that call the Santa Barbara Channel home and the people working together to protect them. The evening brought together…
Building a Strong Foundation: The Power of an Active Board and Advisory Team
As the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area (SBCWHA) continues to grow, one thing has become increasingly clear: our success depends not only on our mission, but on the passionate people who help guide it. In just two and half years, we have built meaningful partnerships, expanded ocean education opportunities, supported whale research and conservation, and connected…
The Mystery of FLUE: Six Years Since His Last Sighting in the Santa Barbara Channel
Surrounded by Blue. Finding yourself floating amongst an aggregation of blue whales is like no other experience on planet Earth. This is what I encountered for the first time in the middle of July 2020. Spouts were everywhere as we sat near the western end of Santa Cruz Island in the Santa Barbara Channel. I…
“Whale Heritage Areas are becoming the gold standard for responsible whale watching destinations worldwide. But they also have so much more to offer. By interweaving natural and cultural elements and placing communities at their very heart, these sites will become places where people respect, celebrate and protect cetaceans and their habitats long into the future.”
Jean-Michel Cousteau Honorary President,
World Cetacean Alliance
Founder, Ocean Futures Society