Vancouver’s Most Playful Ocean Neighbours

For many guests who join a Sea Vancouver boat tour, one of the first wildlife sightings is a curious face peeking up from the water: a harbour seal. With their large, dark eyes and whiskered snouts, these seals are among the most endearing residents of Vancouver’s coastal waters. They are often called “the dogs of the sea,” and for good reason. They are expressive, playful, and seem to share the same curiosity for humans that we have for them.

Harbour seals are one of the most widespread marine mammals in the world, found along temperate coastlines from Japan to California, and all across the North Pacific. Around Vancouver, they are a year-round presence, often seen resting on rocks, log booms, or floating docks throughout False Creek, English Bay, and Burrard Inlet. Unlike sea lions, harbour seals lack external ear flaps and cannot rotate their hind flippers forward, which means they move awkwardly on land but glide effortlessly in the water.

An adult harbour seal typically weighs between 70 and 100 kilograms and measures around 1.5 metres long. Their coats vary from silvery-grey to dark brown, patterned with spots and rings that act as camouflage in the water. Each seal’s markings are unique, much like a fingerprint.

Life in the Salish Sea

Vancouver sits within the Salish Sea, a vast network of channels, inlets, and islands that provide ideal habitat for seals. These animals are opportunistic feeders, dining on herring, hake, cod, and squid. Their excellent underwater vision and sensitive whiskers help them detect prey even in murky water. Harbour seals can dive over 100 metres deep and remain submerged for up to ten minutes.

One of the best times to see seals is during the summer pupping season, typically between June and August. Mothers give birth to a single pup on quiet beaches or rocky shores, and within hours, the pup can swim and follow its mother into the water. It is common to spot mothers and pups resting together on log booms near the harbour! The pups can double their weight in just a few weeks thanks to their mother’s rich milk, which contains up to 50 percent fat. This allows them to develop the insulation needed to thrive in cold Pacific waters.

Seals and Their Role in the Ecosystem

Seals play an important ecological role in maintaining balance in marine food webs. They are both predators and prey, keeping fish populations healthy while providing food for transient killer whales that occasionally visit local waters. Despite their abundance, harbour seals are indicators of ecosystem health; a sudden decline in their population can signal larger environmental problems, such as pollution or changes in prey availability.

Seeing Seals on Your Tour

Sea Vancouver guests are often treated to seal sightings within minutes of leaving Granville Island from our City & Nature Tour. They are naturally curious but cautious, usually keeping a respectful distance from boats. To make the most of a seal encounter, stay quiet and watch their behaviour. You might notice them rolling onto their backs to rest, scratching themselves with their flippers, or poking their heads up repeatedly to keep an eye on you, a behaviour called “bottling.” Your guide will explain these behaviours and share insights into the seal’s life cycle and habits.

Conservation and Respect

While harbour seals are not endangered, they are protected under Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations. Visitors should always observe them from a safe distance and avoid feeding or approaching them. Human disturbance can cause mothers to abandon pups or force seals off their resting areas. Sea Vancouver’s captains follow strict wildlife-viewing guidelines to ensure these animals remain undisturbed in their natural environment.

A West Coast Icon

For many travellers, spotting a seal becomes a highlight of their Vancouver visit. Sea Vancouver’s seal encounters are not just about seeing wildlife, they are about connecting with the rhythm of the ocean and appreciating the living community that defines the Salish Sea!