We are a dedicated team of professional captains, conservationists, and marine scientists working to study, preserve, and protect the precious aquatic life that calls these fabled waters home.
The San Francisco Bay and near-coastal waters are one of the planet’s most significant ecosystems, teeming with a rich biodiversity of marine life including threatened and endangered species.
BayQuest is a vessel-based platform that puts researchers and marine science professionals out on the water. Our goal is to provide consistent on-the-water vigil, observation, scientific data collection, and documentation of residential and migrating marine mammals.
Through active collaboration with partners in the maritime and marine sciences communities, we create mission-specific programs to study ecology and affect a sustainable future.
A passive acoustic monitoring program to study the impacts of vessel interactions on whale vocalization. Utilizing advanced hydrophone systems to listen beneath the surface.
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A neighborhood-driven outreach program designed to engage young people from disadvantaged communities. We offer hands-on marine science and wildlife ecology tours.
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BayQuest supports NOAA Fisheries’ Stranding and Entanglement Response Networks, offering logistical support to help free whales from life-threatening fishing gear.
Learn More →To effectively monitor the choppy waters of San Francisco Bay and the Northern California coast, we are seeking funding to acquire and equip a Safe Boat Defender-Class patrol vessel.
This stable and highly maneuverable platform is essential for safely accommodating research professionals and sensitive acoustic equipment.
Donate to the Vessel FundBayQuest Founder Ray Duran has spent over 20 years on these waters. During a whale watching trip, after seeing a recreational boat carelessly trawl over a feeding humpback whale, a concerned grandmother asked him a simple question:
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
That moment planted a seed. BayQuest is the answer. We exist to be the voice for these creatures, to monitor their safety, and to educate the community on how to peacefully coexist with the wildlife that makes the Bay Area so special.
Mariners, Scientists, and Educators united for the ocean.
Founder / Executive Director
Professional captain with 20+ years experience on SF Bay and Farallones. Passionate advocate for marine wildlife.
President
Adjunct Professor in Oceanography at Cal Maritime Academy. Marine ecologist focused on science teaching.
Project Lead - Acoustics
Board member of American Cetacean Society SF. Expert in passive acoustic monitoring and whale conservation.
Director
Marine science educator and naturalist with National Geographic’s Lindblad Expeditions experience.
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you want to collaborate, volunteer, or just say hello.