Channel Islands Harbor Announces the Start of Whale Watching Season

OXNARD, Calif. - Jan. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- OXNARD, Calif.—Channel Islands Harbor (http://www.channelislandsharbor.org/) celebrates the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale with its 18th Annual Celebration of the Whales. Each winter, these enchanting whales migrate through the Santa Barbara Channel on their way to the lagoons of Mexico, where the females will give birth. Whale watching excursions to the Channel Islands National Park are offered daily from Channel Islands Harbor and provide sightseers the best opportunities for viewing the whales, which are up to 50 feet long and weigh approximately 36 tons, as they travel south. Excursions begin Dec. 26 and run through mid-April 2014.

Businesses at Channel Islands Harbor offering these sight-seeing excursions include Channel Islands Sportfishing, which provides excursions from January through April, (805) 382-1612; and Island Packers, which offers half-day trips from Dec. 26 through mid-April (805) 382-1779. For more information, visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.

Channel Islands Harbor serves as a center of recreation, boating, shopping and water sports activities. The harbor is home to three yacht clubs and nine full-service marinas that provide berths for 2,150 boats. It also hosts the Channel Islands Boating Center, located at 3880 Bluefin Circle. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for CSUCI students, Ventura County residents and the general public. The facility includes classrooms, a conference room, marine education exhibits, and both indoor and outdoor boat storage. The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is also located at the Harbor on 3900 Bluefin Circle. The museum is a cultural center dedicated to the interpretation of maritime history through interactive exhibits and educational outreach. For more information, visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.