From the Caribbean to Newfoundland: The Whale Odyssey

Let us know if you have any questions about Newfoundland and we may air it on next episode. Whale Watching & Research in Trinity, Newfoundland | Sea of Whales Adventures with Shawna PrinceHost Michael Winsor and co-host Cory Babstock welcome Shawna Prince of Sea of Whales Adventures to discuss whale watching and marine research in Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador. Prince explains how Sea of Whales began in 2009 after she and Chris took over from a retiring operator, and describes their long-running photo-identification work and data sharing with groups like Allied Whale and Happywhale’s AI matching. She shares examples of unexpected humpback matches from the Azores to near Russia, outlines identification methods using fluke patterns and tail edges, and notes work with humpbacks, sperm whales, orcas, and a large fin whale dataset. The conversation covers sperm whale ecology and hydrophone use, rare blue whale sightings in September 2024, other local species, Caribbean breeding-ground collaboration in Turks and Caicos, and plans for the upcoming May 15–Oct 15 season, including sperm whale length measurements and iceberg conditions.00:00 Welcome and Guests00:39 Starting Sea of Whales02:06 Whale Photo ID Research03:39 Long Distance Whale Matches04:40 How Photo ID Works05:59 Species and Data Sharing09:54 Happy Whale AI Explained10:56 Sperm Whales in Newfoundland13:45 Hydrophones and Deep Dives17:15 Whale Encounters and Ethics18:51 Surprise Sightings Blue Whales21:47 Fin and Sei Whales Overview25:02 Spotting Sperm Whales25:27 Orca Catalog Connections26:34 Do Orcas Visit More27:22 Chasing Orca Patterns28:40 Humpbacks in Turks29:21 Calves Milk and Migration31:28 Winter Whales and Oddballs32:56 Why They Come North33:49 Orca Scars and Safety36:16 The Mystery of Breaching37:47 Cameras and Rough Seas39:45 Season Plans Icebergs42:12 New Research and Dates43:39 Where to Follow Sea44:08 More Than Whales45:22 Geology Tours and Wrap46:37 Final Thanks and SignoffSupport the showWelcome to the Rock!