Orca distribution

Orcas (Orcinus orca) are toothed whales, also known as killer whales. They are found in all the world’s oceans, living in waters ranging from the tropics to the Arctic. Their large dorsal fin makes swimming in ice-filled waters difficult, but they are becoming more common in the Arctic, including Lancaster Sound, due to climate change and increasingly ice-free waters. This map layer shows orca distribution based on traditional Inuit and local knowledge collected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.