National Outdoor Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 6 (2002) Winner
Alexandra Morton
アレクサンドラ・モートン
Alexandra Morton
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1957-07-13 （Sharon, Connecticut）
- Nationality
- American, Canadian
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Sharon, Connecticut (birthplace) → California (early research/volunteer work) → Broughton Archipelago, Echo Bay, British Columbia — residence and research base
Career
- Occupations
- marine biologist, cetologist, conservation activist, author, founder of research organization
- Active Years
- 1977-
- Affiliations
- Raincoast Research Society (founder)
- Influenced By
- Michael Bigg, John C. Lilly, Barbara Marx Hubbard (mother)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American University | — | — | Diploma | — | United States |
American University
Degree:
Diploma
Country:
United States
Received a diploma. Around 1977 volunteered with John C. Lilly's Human/Dolphin Society cataloguing audio recordings.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Women of Discovery Sea Award | — | — | Wings WorldQuest / Women of Discovery | 受賞 |
Women of Discovery Sea Award
2010
Organization:
Wings WorldQuest / Women of Discovery
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Heart of the Raincoast
1998 nature / fieldworkA photographic and essay work documenting the nature and communities of the British Columbia coast. Co-authored with Billy Proctor.
marine conservationlocal natural history
Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us
2002 memoir / scientific essayA memoir recounting Morton's journey from her upbringing to her career studying orcas in British Columbia, combining observations and insights.
orca researchhuman-nature relationship
Beyond the Whales: The Photographs and Passions of Alexandra Morton
2004 photography / essayA collection of Morton's photographs and essays expressing her passion for marine life and coastal cultures.
photographic documentaryconservation message
Salmon Confidential
2015 environmental report / investigative booklet 24 pagesA 24-page booklet outlining problems caused by open-net salmon farms in Canada (sea lice, viruses, ecological and economic impacts), released via the Pacific Coast Wild Salmon Society.
salmon farming impactsepidemiologylocal economy and conservation
Not on My Watch: How a Renegade Whale Biologist Took on Governments and Industry to Save Wild Salmon
2021 environmental non-fiction / memoirA book documenting Morton's activism and research to protect wild salmon, including legal battles and campaigns against industry and government policies.
environmental activismlegal battleswild fish conservation
Siwiti: A Whale's Story
1991 children's bookA children's story about a whale, intended to encourage interest in nature.
children's nature education
In the Company of Whales, from the Diary of a Whale Watcher
1993 children's book / diary excerptsDiary-style children's book portraying encounters with whales and marine life.
field observationnature education
Bibliography
- Heart of the Raincoast (1998)
- Listening to Whales (2002)
- Beyond the Whales (2004)
- Siwiti: A Whale's Story (1991)
- In the Company of Whales (1993)
- Salmon Confidential (2015, booklet)
- Not on My Watch (2021)
Adaptations
- Documentary film 'Salmon Confidential' (dir. Twyla Roscovich, 2013) — film addressing Morton's investigative themes
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- observation-based non-fictionmemoir-like narrationcombines scientific data with field notes
- Recurring Motifs
- orcas (killer whales)impact of salmon farminginterdependence of sea and coastal communities
Legacy
Alexandra Morton is known for her orca research and activism on the impacts of salmon farming on wild salmon along the Pacific Northwest. Through photographic records, identification catalogues, research on farm-derived disease and sea lice, and conservation campaigns, she has influenced public awareness and policy decisions.
In Popular Culture
- Featured in the documentary 'Salmon Confidential' (2013) and covered in various media reports and commentaries
Quotes
-
"I can't imagine a more whaleless environment."
Source: Listening to Whales (memoir) (2002)
Trivia
- Mother was author Barbara Marx Hubbard; maternal grandfather was toy maker Louis Marx.
- In 1977 volunteered with John C. Lilly's Human/Dolphin Society cataloguing dolphin audio recordings.
- Founded Raincoast Research Society in 1981 (originally Lore Quest).
- Ran as a Green Party candidate in the 2020 British Columbia provincial election (19.26% of vote, placed third).
- In 2015 won a Federal Court decision that struck down aquaculture licence conditions allowing transfer of virus-infected fish to open-net farms.