February 2026
When a whale surfaces in the Santa Barbara Channel, it’s not just an awe-inspiring moment for
passengers—it’s also a valuable data point for science. Thanks to the collaboration between
Whale watching operators and researchers, every splash, breach, and fluke photo helps
scientists better understand the incredible marine life that makes this region one of the most
biodiverse areas on Earth.
Citizen Science on the Water
Local whale watching companies like Channel Islands Expedition, Channel Island Whale
Watching, Condor Express, Island Packers, Pacific Offshore Expeditions, Santa Barbara Sailing
Center, and Santa Barbara Whale Watch, play a crucial role in documenting whale and dolphin
sightings year-round. Their captains and naturalists serve as the eyes on the water, recording
species sightings, behaviors, and locations. These observations are shared with research
institutions, including Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at UCSB, Cascadia Research
Collective, Happywhale, and NOAA are helping scientists track migration patterns, population
changes, and even the impact of ship strikes and climate shifts.
Ryan Lawler, Owner of Pacific Offshore Expedition, shares his love of the pursuit of finding killer
whales in SBCWHA. “Since beginning our Oxnard Killer Whale Quests in December 2023, we’ve
logged over 95 sightings of Killer Whales in the Channel Islands. This represents an exponential
increase in data coming from Southern California. And for scientists studying this species, it’s
truly supplying a “missing link” in helping to understand habitat utilization and range of Killer
Whales.
Ryan continues to share, “we have made sightings of an animal that was presumed to be dead,
having not been sighted in Monterey for 6 years (CA199). And we also discovered two brand
new Killer Whales not ever cataloged near San Nicolas Island in early 2024. Two more Killer
Whales were only photographed once before nearly 20 years ago and had not been seen since
until our 2024 re-sighting. Lastly, our December 2023 encounter with Offshore Killer Whales
predating on mako and blue sharks at San Miguel Island was a significant source in the
publishing of a new scientific paper by Canadian researchers studying prey of this rare ecotype.
Checkout CA199 in all of his glory in the Instagram post below!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJIjgkoPRwt
Data That Makes a Difference
One photo of a humpback whale’s tail or the saddle patch of a killer whale or the dorsal ridge of
a Pacific gray whale or blue whale can tell an incredible story. By submitting images to
platforms like Happywhale, CA Killer Whale Project or Cascadia Research Collective,
naturalists help researchers identify individual whales through their unique markings. Over
time, these records reveal migration routes, calving patterns, and population health—information essential to protecting endangered species such as blue and humpback whales that frequent our waters.
The relationship between scientists and whale watching operators is a model of community-
based conservation. Many of our local captains and crew have decades of experience on the
waters of the Santa Barbara Channel and a deep love for the wildlife they encounter daily.
Through tools like the Whale Alert app, they actively contribute real-time whale sightings that
help protect whales from vessel strikes by informing mariners of whale presence and voluntary
slow-speed zones. Their commitment to ethical viewing practices and to sharing data through
platforms like Whale Alert ensures that our knowledge of whales continues to grow alongside
public appreciation for them—transforming every responsible sighting into meaningful
conservation action.
Libre was Seen Again
A wonderful example of the collaboration of a commercial whale watching company and citizen
science is the story of Libre, a young entangled humpback whale first seen by a whale watching
boat in the eastern Santa Barbara Channel. And now we are incredibly excited to share that
Libre—the humpback whale who miraculously freed herself from life-threatening entanglement
in June 2025—has just been sighted again in Cabo last month on January 12 th . Her survival and
continued migration are powerful reminders of the resilience of whales and the importance of
protecting the waters they depend on. Libre’s journey from entanglement to freedom is truly a
story of hope—proof that recovery is possible. Her recent sighting also highlights this critical
role of citizen science. Whale watchers, researchers, and community members who document
entanglements and resight whales along their migration routes provide invaluable data that
helps track individual animals, inform response efforts, and strengthen conservation
protections. Libre’s story belongs to all who care enough to watch, record, and
protect—demonstrating how collective action can make a real difference for whales.
Celebrating Collaboration
The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area recognizes and celebrates this partnership as a
cornerstone of responsible ecotourism. Every whale watching trip not only connects people to
the magic of the ocean but also supports ongoing research and conservation efforts. Together,
we are writing a collective story of stewardship—one sighting at a time.
Find a list of all of the whale watching companies that explore the channel below!