Posts
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…
BATTLE of the BLUES Impact Statement
In 2024, we premiered the film “BATTLE of the BLUES” at our first annual Whale of a Celebration event. We were thrilled at the opportunity to help produce this film with Adam Ernster Wildlife, and Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies. Since then, the film has done its rounds and has had a powerful impact,…
See A Spout? Watch out! – West Coast Boater Education Course ONLINE NOW!
The “See A Spout? Watch Out!” program is a course aimed to prepare boaters and sailors in the Greater Atlantic (Maine through Virginia), West Coast, and Hawaiian Island regions on how to safely navigate through waters shared with protected marine species, especially large whales, for the safety and well-being of both boaters and marine species. We…
Feeding Along the Way: Gray Whales Adapt in a Changing Ocean
It has been a month of wonderful gray whale sightings by all 8 responsible whale watching tour operators in the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area. Each year, Eastern North Pacific gray whales complete one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth, traveling more than 10,000 miles between their breeding lagoons in BajaCalifornia…
How Whale Watching Companies Support Marine Science in the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area
February 2026 When a whale surfaces in the Santa Barbara Channel, it’s not just an awe-inspiring moment forpassengers—it’s also a valuable data point for science. Thanks to the collaboration betweenWhale watching operators and researchers, every splash, breach, and fluke photo helpsscientists better understand the incredible marine life that makes this region one of the mostbiodiverse…
Why the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area Opposes New Oil Drilling
The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area exists to protect, celebrate, and educate thepublic about one of the most biologically rich marine ecosystems on our planet. This channel isnot just water between the mainland and the Channel Islands—it is a living corridor for whales,dolphins, seabirds, fisheries, and coastal communities that have depended on a healthy…
Celebrating Three Newly Named Whales
The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area (SBCWHA) is proud to announce a heartfelt contribution to marine science and conservation: the naming of three individually recognized whales—a blue whale, a gray whale, and a humpback whale—each honoring remarkable community leaders whose lives have been intertwined with our ocean. These gifts support the research and cataloging…
A Whale of a Gratitude: Celebrating Two Years as a Whale Heritage Area
As we reflect on our 2nd annual Whale of a Celebration, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. This special gathering is more than an event—it is a testament to the deep love, dedication, and community spirit that make the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area so vibrant. To all who attended, thank you for showing up…
Welcoming Luisa Hyatt as Interim Co-Director of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area.
We are thrilled to share that Luisa Hyatt is stepping in as the new Interim Co-Director of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area. Luisa is an ocean woman through and through. With her husband Mark, she has spent decades building deep connections to the Santa Barbara Channel and its community. Together, they brought Paddle…
With Gratitude: Honoring Hiroko Benko’s Leadership
It is with deep gratitude and admiration that we share the news of Hiroko Benko’s resignation as Co-Director of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area. For the past four years, Hiroko has poured her heart, wisdom, and energy into helping our community achieve something truly remarkable: the global designation of the Santa Barbara Channel…
Are Blue Whales really going silent?
A recent publication entitled “Blue whales are going eerily silent—and scientists say it’s a warning sign”, gave insight into the mysterious lives of blue whales, and how warm water years like 2014’s “The Blob,” may affect their behavioral patterns and appearances. Overview & Findings Scientists have been using a long-term hydrophone system—essentially an underwater microphone…