Latest Short Film!
Channel of Giants : Celebrating Two Years as a Whale Heritage Area
Checkout our NEW Short Film highlighting what it means to be a whale heritage area. Join SBCWHA Co-Director Holly Lohuis on an expedition through the Santa Barbara Channel, where we encounter dozens of humpback whales, a species once near extinction off the California coast, now on the rise.
CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH!
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!
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…
A Young Humpback Whale’s Close Call: A Story of Action, Teamwork, and Ocean Passion
IF YOU SEE AN ENTANGLED WHALE OR MARINE MAMMAL, PLEASE CALL THE NOAA DISENTANGLEMENT HOTLINE AT 877-SOS-WHALE (877-767-9425) The public should report all sightings of entangled marine mammals so trained and authorized responders can safely respond. Equal parts heart-wrenching and hopeful, Island Packers’ first summer whale watching excursion aboard Island Explorer on June 19, 2025 turned…
The Power of Whale Watching: Inspiring the Next Generation of Ocean Stewards
The Santa Barbara Channel is one of the most biologically rich and ecologically significant marine environments in the world. Designated as a Whale Heritage Area in 2023, this vibrant stretch of ocean is home to diverse marine wildlife, including many species of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and seabirds. While books, documentaries, and classroom…
“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