From Molecules to Management: Decoding Whale Diets Across the Northeast Pacific using Environmental DNA

This project will respond to recent declines in grey whale and resident killer whale populations in British Columbia waters land their link to malnutrition. Using environmental DNA (eDNA), fecal samples, and prey fragments, this project will study seasonal diets, key prey sources, and how changing ocean conditions affect prey availability for both species. The results will support Indigenous stewardship and provide policymakers with clearer, timely evidence-based insights into the diet of BC whales and emerging environmental threats.