Mingan Island Cetacean Study

Name

Mingan Island Cetacean Study

Legal name

Mingan Island Cetacean Study, Inc.

Website

https://rorqual.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation and Wildlife Research Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC)

Keywords

• Marine mammal research
• Whale conservation
• Photo-identification studies
• Interpretive museum programs
• Citizen science expeditions

Headquarters

HQ city

Longue-pointe-de-mingan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and grants: MICS is a non-profit organization entirely funded by donations. The key to their success is their ability to pursue long-term research, supported by donors and grant funding.
2. Whale adoption program: Visitors and supporters can adopt a whale, providing financial support while creating a personal connection to individual marine mammals.
3. Museum admission fees: The interpretation center charges admission for guided and self-guided museum tours. Open daily from June 21 to September 15, with adult guided tours at $17.50 and self-guided visits at $7.50.
4. Group and educational tours: School groups and other organizations can arrange guided tours with biologists by appointment, providing educational programming.
5. Online store sales: MICS operates an online store (store.rorqual.com) selling merchandise to supporters and visitors.
6. Research expeditions and day trips: Participants can join day trips with research teams or week-long research station stays, contributing to the organization while experiencing fieldwork.
7. Annual 'Friends of MICS' subscription: Annual subscription providing exclusive content to long-term supporters and donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MICS operates a seasonal marine mammal research station and interpretation center in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec, where biologists conduct long-term photo-identification and blubber biopsy studies of baleen whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Its commercial offerings are a combination of paid public engagement programs—guided museum tours, week-long research expeditions, day trips, sunset photography outings, student internships, and whale adoption—and an online merchandise store, with the entire operation funded by donations, grants, and visitor income.

Product overview

Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) is a non-profit marine mammal research organization operating a single unified research station focused on studying the biology and ecology of baleen whales in the St. Lawrence and North Atlantic. The organization offers a portfolio of visitor programs including the Centre d'interprétation museum, research expeditions (week-long stays and day trips), sunset photography outings, whale adoption, student internships, and an annual membership program. The museum features life-sized whale models, educational murals, and guided biologist-led tours. Revenue is generated through donations, visitor programs, merchandise sales, and memberships. The organization does not operate a technology product platform but conducts field research using photo-identification and blubber biopsy sampling methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centre d'interprétation (Museum / Interpretation Center) A research museum and interpretation center located in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec, inaugurated in 1992. It features full-scale whale models (including an 8-meter female minke whale with skeleton), a 10-meter mural of whale species, and a 13-meter mosaic floor depicting a life-sized humpback whale. Biologist-led guided tours and self-guided visits are offered to the public seasonally from June 21 to September 15, with adult guided tours at $17.50 CAD.
• Guided and Self-Guided Museum Tours Paid public visits to the interpretation center, led by experienced marine biologists during the summer season. Tiered pricing per visitor in CAD: adult guided $17.50, seniors $15.00, children 6-12 $7.00, children 0-5 free; self-guided adults $7.50, seniors $5.00, children 6-12 $3.50, children 0-5 free. Includes appointment-based group and school tours at custom pricing.
• Research Expeditions (Séjours de recherche / Week-Long Research Station Stays) Week-long immersive stays at the MICS research station in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan where participants work alongside marine biologists, assisting with daily field research aboard inflatable boats in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Unit-priced per stay.
• Day Trips (Sorties à la journée) One-day field research outings on the water with the MICS research team, giving members of the public the chance to observe marine mammals in their natural Gulf of St. Lawrence habitat. Availability arranged directly with the team when participants are in the region. Unit-priced per trip.
• Sunset Photo Outings (Sortie photo au coucher du Soleil) Evening photography excursions on the water with the research team, offering marine landscape and wildlife photography opportunities during sunset hours in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Unit-priced per outing.
• Whale Adoption Program (Adoption d'une baleine) Annual subscription program under which supporters symbolically adopt an individual whale documented in MICS's photo-identification catalog, providing financial support to ongoing research and receiving information about their adopted cetacean.
• MICS Friends Membership (Amis du MICS) Annual recurring subscription providing exclusive content to long-term supporters who commit to ongoing funding of MICS's marine mammal research.
• Summer Internships for Students (Stages d'été pour étudiants) Seasonal summer internship placements for biology and science students to gain hands-on cetacean research and field skills working directly with MICS biologists.
• Online Store (store.rorqual.com) E-commerce storefront selling MICS-branded merchandise to supporters and visitors worldwide; online channel for store.rorqual.com (also accessible in French).

Quantifiable outcome

• Documented 13 species of whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence through systematic research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Montreal BiodomeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Montreal Biodome provided space for a MICS fundraiser event in March 2015. The event featured a Nik Huber guitar to raise funds for blue whale research.
• GREMM (Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMICS collaborates with GREMM on whale research in the St. Lawrence. GREMM researchers and MICS share observations; for example, GREMM documented the blue whale 'Galinule' (B236) that was also tracked by MICS researchers. GREMM maintains the Whale Stitch web platform for marine mammal data.
• Fisheries and Oceans CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMICS uses data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to study climate change impacts on the Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem. The research team utilized Pêches et Océans Canada data on water temperature, ice formation timing, and water chemistry alongside their own field observations.
• Local, national, and international research partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMICS aims to establish strong local, national and international partnerships to expand understanding of whale species and their vital marine ecosystems. The organization participates in collaborative research contributing to peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Marine Mammal Center: California-based non-profit operating as a working marine mammal research and rehabilitation hospital with strong public education and volunteer engagement programs. Comparable in combining long-term research, citizen engagement, and an interpretive visitor experience.
• Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation: Non-profit marine conservation organization conducting whale and marine wildlife research with public education and citizen science programs off the New England coast. Comparable as a whale-focused non-profit combining long-term monitoring with public engagement.
• Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM): GREMM is the most direct peer, operating as a non-profit research organization studying marine mammals in the St. Lawrence from the opposite shore (Tadoussac). The two organizations share whale observations (e.g., B236 'Galinule'), collaborate on data platforms like Whale Stitch, and operate complementary public-engagement models combining research with public education.

Emerging players

• Pacific Marine Mammal Center: Smaller non-profit marine mammal rescue and research organization in Laguna Beach, California with public education programming. Comparable in scale and mission blend of marine mammal research and community education.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Wise Conservation Association: Ocean Wise is a larger marine conservation non-profit with research, education, and public engagement programs spanning multiple species and geographies. It operates the Vancouver Aquarium and is comparable in combining marine research with public-facing education and tourism experiences.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Larger independent marine research organization on the U.S. East Coast with broader oceanographic research scope but overlapping whale and marine mammal research programs. Comparable as an independent marine research institution producing peer-reviewed science.
• Whale and Dolphin Conservation: International non-profit dedicated to whale and dolphin conservation with research, advocacy, and supporter-engagement programs (including symbolic adoption programs similar to MICS' whale adoption). Comparable as a global whale-focused non-profit combining research with donor-engagement programs.

Regional players

• Aquarium du Québec: Québec-based public aquarium operated by SÉPAQ featuring marine life exhibits including marine mammals, located in the same province as MICS. Comparable in providing marine education experiences to Québec visitors, though focused on captive animal display rather than wild cetacean research.
• Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: U.S. federal marine research and education program focused on whale populations in the Gulf of Maine. Comparable in conducting long-term whale research with public education programming, though operating as a government entity rather than independent non-profit.

Others

• Cetacean Society International: Non-profit cetacean conservation and education organization. Comparable as a non-profit focused on whale and dolphin conservation with public education and scientific engagement, though smaller and more advocacy-focused than research-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mingan-island-cetacean-study

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mingan Island Cetacean Study