Background

Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) is a non-profit research organization dedicated to ecological studies of marine mammals and marine ecosystems. Founded in 1979 by Richard Sears, MICS was the first organization to carry out long-term research on cetaceans in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and first to carry out long-term studies on the endangered blue whale. The principal study areas include the Québec North Shore in the Mingan Island/Anticosti region, the Gaspe Peninsula and St Lawrence Estuary. 

Research Tourism

In order to fund our research, MICS invites the public to participate in our marine mammal studies from June to September every year. Anyone can join us for a day trip or for a week-long immersion, and join biologists in the field and witness what it's like to be a cetacean researcher, observe whale behavior, and better understand marine ecosystems.  Our aim is not to offer just another whale-watch, but have you experience our studies first hand, which is the best learning travel can offer.

Scientific Research

MICS conducts research on populations of blue, humpback, fin, and minke whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. MICS is one of the few organizations to have such a long-running research database on these species, which has contributed to hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and has helped government conservation policies. Through our research and collaborations with other scientific institutions around the world, our aim is to further our understanding of these marine mammals in order to better contribute towards their conservation.