Fishermen spot pod of killer whales off Cape Breton

Lobster fishermen in northern Cape Breton were treated to a special sighting this week as they came face to face with a pod of killer whales. Marine biologist Elizabeth Zwamborn believes that these sightings are becoming more common in the area.

Bernie Lamey, a lobster fisherman, was out on the water near Cape Smokey when he noticed a couple of orcas circling his boat. Within minutes, the fishermen counted about a dozen killer whales, who appeared to be in a playful mood.

“They came around our boat, bumped into the boat, rolled around, showed their bellies, [came] up and had a little look at us,” Lamey described the encounter to CBC’s Information Morning Cape Breton. “They almost looked like they were more interested in us than we were of them. It was pretty spectacular.”

Lamey immediately recognized the killer whales by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. He marveled at the sight of these majestic creatures up close, noting that it was an unforgettable experience.

Zwamborn, who conducts an annual survey of pilot whales in the area, confirmed that the orcas spotted off Cape Breton are indeed killer whales. She mentioned that while black like orcas, pilot whales lack the white patches on their cheeks and have smaller dorsal fins.

Typically, killer whales are spotted farther out in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland and Labrador or in the Arctic. However, this year has seen an increase in sightings near Cape Breton, with orcas spotted near Money Point, Cape Smokey, and Flint Island.

Zwamborn speculates that climate change may be impacting the distribution of marine life, leading to the presence of orcas in these waters. It remains unclear whether the sightings are of the same pod or multiple pods, but the increase in sightings suggests a shift in the marine ecosystem.

Overall, the interaction between the lobster fishermen and the killer whales highlights the beauty and diversity of marine life in northern Cape Breton. As these sightings become more common, researchers and locals alike are eager to learn more about these magnificent creatures and their behavior in the region.