Volunteers from the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Network (RQUMM) suspended their research on Île Sainte-Hélène on Monday after failing to observe the minke whales settled in Montreal for two days.
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On Sunday morning, the captain of the ship “Carolus Magnus” is said to have observed a minke whale at Cap Saint-Michel, 25 km downstream from the island of Sainte-Hélène. “We have had no news since then,” reads the whalesendirect.org website.
The last sightings of minke whales swimming in Montreal waters date back to last Saturday at 5:30pm for the first minke whale and 9pm for the second.
The network is asking other network members who live between Montreal and Charlevoix to keep an eye out and report any sightings.
For the past week, volunteers have taken turns on Île Sainte-Hélène 14 hours a day to follow the minke whales and ensure their safety.