THE NETWORK

Since its establishment in 1998, the Marine Mammal Observation Network (MMON) has been compiling a database on whales and seals in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
From the outset, the region’s conservation parks, cruise and whale-watching tour companies, shipping operators and ferries have collaborated on this project by voluntarily collecting data on marine mammals sighted during their season of activity.
The goal is to characterize the distribution, abundance and seasonal fluctuations of the marine mammal populations encountered by members in the course of their activities on the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
This project also aims to raise the awareness of personnel on vessels operating in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence about the presence of at-risk whale populations in these waters and the behaviour to be adopted when marine mammals are encountered, including limiting and reporting collisions. For whale-watching and other cruise operators, the project helps inform their crews of good marine mammal observation practices.
The data collected by MMON are centralized and shared with the public via the website of the St. Lawrence Global Observatory.

OUR MEMBERS

The Marine Mammal Observation Network (MMON) is made up of members from a variety of sectors, including tourists, conservation parks, shipping operators, ferries and other institutions directly related to the St. Lawrence River. They form a network of observers who collect data on whales and seals sighted during their offshore activities.

Tourists

Conservation parks

Shipping companies and ferries

Institutions

BECOME A MEMBER

If you are a company or organization that encounters marine mammals in the course of your activities and you are interested in participating in this important project, please email us at info@romm.ca. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and set up a collaboration agreement with you!
004-clipboard-with-pencil
1

Enrolment

Click on the icon above to contact us.
003-signature-with-a-pen
2

Signature

When you become a member of MMON, you will be asked to sign a memorandum covering an initial period of three years and setting out the terms of the agreement.
002-envelope
3

Materials

Get the materials and documents you need to start collecting data on the marine mammals you encounter.
001-college-graduation
4

Training

When resources are available, MMON offers its members personalized training on data collection and identification of marine mammals.