Kakawin seen travelling Alberni Inlet

Beachkeepers spend 40 minutes with killer whales, which soon swam to Ahousaht

By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

PortAlberni, BC - For the Tseshaht beachkeepers, March 23 began when they met their supervisor down at the Port Alberni docks. They took two boats down theAlberni Inlet to Equis, where they had left Hemlock branches along a string of buoys with hopes to catch herring eggs. But with no luck they returned to Keith Island where they spent the remainder of the day.

Later on that day the crew decided to take their time on their way back home to PortAlberni. It was when they neared Nahmint Bay that they noticed sprays a few hundred metres ahead.

Initially the beachkeepers thought they were humpbacks, but when they saw orca fins breaching the water, excitement stirred.

Shane Sieber said there were about seven orcas.

“It’s not too often where you get to see a pod of orcas in theAlberni Canal,” said Sieber.

Sieber shared his excitement with family and friends by putting videos on Face-