Our story

The Bay of Fundy is one of nature’s true wonders, home to the world’s highest tides—reaching up to 16 meters—and a rich underwater landscape that creates ideal feeding grounds for marine life. This extraordinary environment supports a diverse array of species, from seabirds and porpoises to dolphins and, most notably, whales.

In the 1980s, researchers recognized the Bay’s significance as a critical habitat for humpback whales and began long-term studies using Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises as a platform for data collection. What started as a passion for understanding these magnificent animals has grown into a decades-long commitment to science and conservation.

Today, we proudly carry that mission forward through the Bay of Fundy Whale Research and Conservation Society—the only nonprofit organization based in the Bay of Fundy dedicated solely to the long-term study of individual humpback whales in these waters. Since 1984, our team has documented over 750 individual humpbacks through whale watching and dedicated research cruises.

Our work not only deepens the local understanding of whale behavior and ecology but also contributes to broader efforts across the Gulf of Maine and the North Atlantic. We collaborate with leading institutions such as the Center for Coastal Studies and Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic. Additionally, our catalog informs citizen science through those institutions and their partnership with Happywhale.

Our story is one of science, stewardship, and an enduring connection to the whales of the Bay of Fundy. And we’re just getting started.