Program


Acoustics

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Genetics

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Conservation

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Migrations

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Innovations & new knowledge (AI, satellites)

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Behavior

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Sustainable economy

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Citizen Science

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Health assessment & long term monitoring

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Acoustics 〰️ Genetics 〰️ Conservation 〰️ Migrations 〰️ Innovations & new knowledge (AI, satellites) 〰️ Behavior 〰️ Sustainable economy 〰️ Citizen Science 〰️ Health assessment & long term monitoring 〰️

Thematic Sessions

The Humpback Whale World Congress 2025 will bring together experts, enthusiasts, innovators, and decision-makers around key themes aimed at better understanding, protecting, and sustainably coexisting with these giants of the ocean.
Throughout a series of engaging and diverse sessions, we will explore:
 Whether you are a researcher, student, artist, manager, fisher, or simply an ocean lover, these themes are an open invitation to collectively shape an ambitious, informed future for humpback whales and marine environments.
Join us in Tadoussac for a unique gathering of knowledge, collaboration, and commitment.

Congress activities

Whale Watching

Since the congress will take place in Tadoussac — one of the best places in the world to observe whales — a whale-watching boat tour will be offered (available as an option when registering).
You’ll also have the chance to observe whales from land every morning, thanks to the incredible location where the Saguenay Fjord meets the St. Lawrence River.

Workshops

Workshops on various topics will be open to everyone for a fee, except for those already registered for the congress. A dedicated registration tab will be available soon for those who wish to attend workshops only. It is also possible to sponsor a workshop on a specific topic — if you're interested, please contact us!
Movie projection,  Live performance in danse and music

Arts & Science events

Humpback Whale World Congress 2025 — Preliminary Calendar
Humpback Whale World Congress Tadoussac & Quebec • 15 – 19 Oct 2025

Preliminary Calendar

All sessions, presentations and social events at a glance.

Wednesday October 15
10:50 – 12:00
Opening session
Chateau Frontenac, Quebec
12:00 – 13:30
Lunch
At Salon Montmagny
13:30 – 17:00
Departure in Chatered bus
Quebec → Tadoussac
17:00 – 18:00
Arrival in Tadoussac & Check-In
18:00 – 19:30
Event #1 — Icebreaker evening
Hotel Tadoussac
Thursday October 16
08:00 – 08:25
Opening session
08:30 – 09:15
Invited Speaker #1 — Robert Michaud (GREMM)
How many SLE belugas is NA humpback whale worth? Does status matter ?
09:20 – 09:50
Oral session #1 — Whale watching
Chair: Lyne Morissette
09:50 – 10:10
Coffee break
Poster room
10:10 – 11:40
Oral session #2 — Conservation
Chair: Nadège Gandilhon
11:40 – 12:02
Poster session
12:02 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:15
Invited Speaker #2 — Erich Hoyt, Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs): Engaging communities & giving marine mammals a seat at the negotiating table
14:20 – 14:50
Oral session #3 — Citizen Science
Chair: Cristiane Albuquerque
14:50 – 15:10
Coffee break
Poster room
15:10 – 16:10
Oral session #4 — Acoustics
Chair: Olivier Adam
16:10 – 17:10
Oral session #5 — Migration
Chair: Erich Hoyt
17:10 – 17:40
Oral session #6 — Behavior
Chair: Robert Michaud
20:00 – 22:00
Event #2 — Film screening
Location : Centre Communautaire de Tadoussac
Film : Ocean Seen From the Heart — I. Cadrin‑Rossignol & M‑D Michaud
Pre-screen of the teaser The Humpback Whales of the Sargasso Sea, director Andrew Stevenson
Friday 17 October
08:00 – 08:45
Tribute
Tribute to Roger Payne & Oswaldo Vasquez — by Phil Clapham
09:00 – 10:20
Workshops sessions #1
Topics: Ports in action : Initiatives for sustainable coexistence with marine mammals • Chairpersons: Nadège Gandilhon, director NG Expertises & Recherches & Véronique Trudeau, director at Green Marine
Workshops sessions #2
Topics: Development for sustainable fisheries • Chairpersons: Lyne Morissette, director M-Expertise Marine & Éloise Lemaire, project manager at Merivov
10:20 – 10:40
Coffee break
Poster area
10:40 – 11:50
Workshops (continued)
12:00 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:15
Invited Speaker #3 — Phil Clapham, NOAA's National Marine Mammal Laboratory
The Resilient Whale : The past, Present and Future of Megaptera novaeangliae
14:20 – 15:00
Workshop session #3
Topics: New technologies for cetacean observations based on eDNA robots, visual observations, passive acoustics and AI • Chairpersons: Jean‑Luc Jung, professor at the French Museum of Natural History & Olivier Adam, professor at Sorbonne University
Workshop session #4
Topics: Connecting to protect better : MPAs, cooperation and action networks for sustainable coexistence • Chairpersons: Valérie Collin, vice-president de Cétamada & Jérôme Couvat, scientific coordinator at the French Agoa Sanctuary
15:00 – 15:20
Coffee break
Poster room
15:20 – 16:50
Workshops (continued)
17:00 – 17:40
Workshops restitution
20:00 – 22:00
Event #3 — Visit of the Marine Mammal Interpretation Center
Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre
Saturday 18 October
08:00 – 09:15
Invited Speaker #4 — Ted Cheeseman (Happywhale)
Humpack whales are locals, but not locals only - new science shows a few wanderers and many highly site-faithful whales
09:20 – 10:20
Oral session #7 — Distribution
Chair : Phil Clapham
10:20 – 10:40
Coffee break
Poster room
10:40 – 12:10
Oral session #8 — Collision
Chair: Lyne Morissette
12:10 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:15
Invited Speaker #4 — Joy Reidenberg (Icahn School of Medicin at Mount Sinai's Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology
Anatomy of humpback whale sound production and transmission
14:20 – 15:05
Oral session #9 —Feeding
Chair : Jean-Luc Jung
15:05 – 15:25
Coffee break
Poster room
15:25 – 15:55
Oral session #10 —Behavior
Chair : Joy Reidenberg
15:55 – 16:55
Oral session #11 —Distribution
Chair : Ted Cheeseman
17:00 – 17:30
Closing Session
20:00 – 00:00
Event #4 - Gala Night
Sunday 19 October
10:15 – 12:45
Event #5 - Whale-Watching
Visit of the terrestrial observation sites in Sainte-Marguerite Bay or Cape of Bon-Désir (Possible to do a short walk next to the hotel : Pointe de l’Islet
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
13:00 – 17:30
Departure in chartered bus #1
Tadoussac → Quebec
1st stop - Quebec Airport | 2nd stop - Central Quebec (TBD)
Monday October 20
13:30 – 17:00
Departure in chartered bus #2
Tadoussac → Quebec
1st stop - Quebec Airport | 2nd stop - Central Quebec (TBD)