We are proud of what we do
Seafun is proud to have the privilege of hosting thousands of guests each year who desire to connect with nature. We only employ guides who are conservationists and who are passionate about the environment. Our goal is to give our guests a fun-filled and action-packed adventure and to share our passion by educating and encouraging participants to become better stewards over their own particular environment.

A wise person once said: “Respect the environment, and when enjoying it, tread lightly and leave as small a footprint as possible”

The science
Much research has been done over the years and is still ongoing with regard to Orca pods, J, K and L. This group, known as the Southern Resident Killer Whales are now classified as an Endangered Species in the U.S.A. and are classified as a Threatened Species in Canada. Anecdotal accounts lead us to believe that these three pods used to number more than 100 animals. A low point of approximately 70 whales was reached about 30 years ago. Fortunately since then, we have seen a consistent uptrend and this same population now numbers over 90 whales. Research and science points to several key factors which have contributed to the struggle this population has faced. These include extremely high toxicity levels, the whale capture program and continuing scarcity of prey. In addition, it has also been suggested that heavy boat traffic and noise pollution may potentially be factors.

The Orca (in common with some other species) have a layer of blubber which allows accumulations of toxins. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) note [1] in particular are believed to have an extremely negative impact on this population. Female killer whales Orca are living to a relatively ripe old age, averaging 70 years in the wild. Males on the other hand are surviving only half as long. Unlike the females, they have no way of down-loading toxins as the females do by giving birth to successive generations of toxin-laden calves. The result is a very high infant mortality rate. Gestation also contributes to the next generation having high initial levels of toxicity. In Canada and the U.S.A. good legislation has resulted in lower levels of noxious substances being released into the environment. It will take many generations before this group recovers to “normal”.

Pods J, K and L lost almost 60 members to programs that put whales into captivity in aquariums around the world. Worse still, most of the animals put into captivity were young females. Their wild counterparts as a result, lost their ability to replenish their population as attrition took its natural toll. The good news is that capture no longer took place after the late 1970’s.

Pod’s J, K and L are fish eaters and salmon are their prefered prey. Overfishing has resulted in diminished quantities of most salmon species. Volumes of salmon returning into the river systems of the Pacific Northwest are estimated in many cases to be less than 10% of returns recorded 50 years ago. Whilst overfishing has been arrested through strict quota systems, the problem has been compounded by the deterioration of hundreds of rivers which no longer support the return of spawning salmon.

Leave a smaller footprint
To ensure we leave a footprint that is as small as possible, Seafun Safaris has recently upgraded all boat power-plants from two-stroke outboards, to four-stroke automotive-type engines. Seafun is one of the very few companies in Victoria that has upgraded and spent the extra money to replace the older more polluting technology.

“Four-stroke motors emit 97 percent less pollution than conventional two-strokes. Four-stroke motors do not mix oil with fuel (no raw petrochemical discharge) and are designed for complete combustion prior to exhausting. Even the latest direct fuel-injected two-stroke motors emit 10 times as many hydrocarbons as four-strokes”. note [2]

In addition, our newest vessel, Serengeti, has a “scarab” hull form which at cruising speed leaves a much smaller wake than comparable vessels. At slower speeds when in the vicinity of marine wildlife, the wake is in fact negligible.

Our on-the-water curriculum has been upgraded each year to include many stops during our tours which expose our guests to the natural history of the Pacific Northwest, other marine mammals and our wonderful and diverse birdlife. The objective is to relieve pressure on the whales. By expanding our on-the-water curriculum and including other marine wildlife, we are able to provide our guests with a much enhanced marine excursion, yet spend less time than most other commercial whale watching companies in the vicinity of whales. “Respect the environment, and when enjoying it, tread lightly and leave as small a footprint as possible”

How we actually erase our footprint
Seafun goes one step further. We not only attempt to leave a very small “footprint”, but we attempt to erase our “footprint” by doing substantially more to enhance the environment than negatively impacting it by our presence. In other words, our impact on the environment is more positive than negative. And is how we do it:

We recognize the value of the many years of scientific observations and studies that have identified the several key factors negatively impacting our Southern Resident Killer Whale population. Whilst it may seem a formidable task to undo or reverse some of the negative trends, it is by no means impossible. Several years ago Seafun Safaris became involved with a worthwhile ongoing project that has and is making a significant contribution toward the recovery of the salmon population, and as a consequence, the recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population.

Seafun Safaris’ participates in this very worthwhile activity by corporate contributions and practical volunteer support by staff and company owners. For example, two of the owners are involved with the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association. note [3] Activities include harvesting eggs from female salmon returning to the Goldstream River and harvesting sperm from the returning males. The eggs are fertilized in the Association’s facility and subsequently the young fry are hatched out. The young salmon are grown to a healthy size and reintroduced into river systems that previously have been unable to support returning salmon, but now are sufficiently cleaned up and organized to be revitalized. Some rivers and streams previously “dead” are now seeing salmon return to spawn.

Conclusion
“Respect the environment, and when enjoying it, tread lightly and leave as small a footprint as possible”

note [1] http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html
note [2] http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0897/et0897s2.html
note [3] http://members.shaw.ca/goldstreamhatchery/mainfram.htm