U.S. border photos, Port expansion questions, agri tourism popularity, and more.

Summary

Podcast Summary: Your World Tonight (CBC)

Episode Date: December 26, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Your World Tonight dives into major news stories impacting Canadians: the rollout of new U.S. biometric measures at the border, Alberta's tumultuous political year and pipeline debates, contentious port expansion plans near Montreal, the rice worm crisis threatening Saskatchewan farmers, and the rise of agritourism. The episode rounds out with a fascinating look at unexpected animal alliances off Canada's west coast. The tone blends analytical reporting with human stories, always focused through a Canadian lens.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Border Biometric Photo Rule

Segment: 00:42–04:22

• What’s New: Starting today, the U.S. requires photographs of all Canadians crossing its borders, using facial biometrics to verify identities. This now applies to all modes of transportation, not just air.
• Experiences:
  • Warren Chappell, returning from Cleveland:

    "I felt ambushed because it happened so quickly." (02:18)

    • No prior notice or option to refuse the photo.
• Legal & Privacy Concerns:
  • U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders predicts logistical nightmares and longer border delays, particularly at busy land crossings (03:07).
  • Previously, non-U.S. citizens could opt out in Canada and the U.S.; now it's mandatory south of the border.
• Official Justification:
  • CBP spokesman:

    "By using advanced technology like facial biometrics, we not only add an extra layer of security, but we also streamline the inspection process." (03:51)

• Implications: Might further deter Canadians from visiting the U.S., compounding an already steep decline.

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2. Alberta Politics: Pipeline Deal & Political Unrest

Segment: 04:22–09:51
Guest: Kathleen Petty, host of CBC’s West of Centre

• Pipeline Agreement:
  • The new MOU between Alberta and Ottawa is seen as Premier Danielle Smith’s major 2025 accomplishment (04:48).
  • Challenges ahead include provincial battles (BC, First Nations), finding a private builder, and meeting strict carbon requirements.

    "As significant as the MOU is... that was the easy part. The hard part is going to unfold next year." – Kathleen Petty (04:48)

• Recall Campaigns:
  • 21 petitions approved targeting UCP MLAs, including Smith herself.
  • Bar is high: need 60% of previous voters' signatures in 90 days, then a recall vote.
  • Most unlikely to succeed but creates significant distraction.

    "It creates a huge distraction and disruption." – Kathleen Petty (07:13)

• Referenda and Separation:
  • Efforts both to affirm Alberta’s place in Canada, and for a referendum on independence, are moving forward.
  • Government not challenging the separation question’s constitutionality.

    "There is substantial support among UCP members. So this is a political dynamic Smith is trying to manage." (07:59)

• Smith’s Position:
  • Publicly supports staying in Canada, but hasn’t said if she’d campaign for it.

    "I believe in a sovereign Alberta within the united Canada." (09:29)

• Takeaway:
  • Alberta political drama is ongoing and high-stakes.

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3. Montreal Port Expansion Debate

Segment: 09:56–13:30
Reporter: Eli Glasner

• Background: The Montreal port is at capacity; new expansion planned in Contrecoeur to boost economic activity and jobs.
• Community Response: Local residents deeply opposed:
  • Ellen Reeves (citizens' group):

    "It's going to become a huge industrial zone and it's not going to be the beautiful little town on the St. Lawrence River." (11:53)

  • Fears about loss of quality of life, huge jump in truck traffic (up to 1,200 trucks/day).
• Expert Critique:
  • Shipping expert Jean-Paul Rodrigue says this expansion may be too late, as container ships outgrow the St. Lawrence route.

    "The position of Montreal became increasingly... marginalized in terms of the big trade because the ships were getting bigger." (12:30)

  • Suggests the government missed an opportunity by not investing instead in a deep-water port at Quebec City.
• Port’s View: The site has infrastructure advantages (rail, highway, power secure).
• Looming Questions: As trade shifts to Asia and ships grow, is Montreal at risk of being bypassed?

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4. Wild Rice Worm Crisis in Saskatchewan

Segment: 14:22–17:28
Reporter: Alexander Silberman

• The Problem: Northern Saskatchewan’s wild rice crops, crucial for Cree communities, are devastated by rice worms.
  • Tommy Smith, traditional harvester:

    "We gathered just 20 bags last harvest. The average before the rice worms? 400." (15:10)

  • Local buyers report up to 30% crop loss in some areas.
  • Bags of rice are so infested that "you can hear them wriggling" (15:50).
• Efforts to Fight Back:
  • Testing pheromone traps to attract the insects.
  • Unclear why worms are spreading north—possible link to recent wildfires.

    "You get new growth, it provides an opportunity to the rice worm moths." – Prof. Tim Charbel (16:39)

• Human Impact:
  • Phyllis Smith, another harvester:

    "He almost feel like there's no use for me having a harvesting boat. So I almost want to..." (17:12)

    • Some are quitting the trade after generations.
• Urgency: Search for solutions is desperate, as entire livelihoods are at stake.

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5. Agritourism: Farms Diversifying to Survive

Segment: 17:28–20:05
Reporter: Kyle Bakx

• Trend: Alberta ranchers converting grain bins into guest cabins, welcoming visitors for a real farm experience.
  • Cindy Marr, operator:

    "We’ve diversified our ranch and it’s a good opportunity to get extra income that way, too." (18:17)

  • Her daughter-in-law, Peyton:

    "More and more, you can’t be just a rancher. You’re always looking for ways to branch out." (18:38)

• Economic Challenge: Succession is a major problem, as $300B in farmland will change hands over the next decade and the average farmer is now nearly 60.
  • Prof. Rebecca Perk Stevenson (U of Alberta):

    "It’s a type of industry where your own identity is really enmeshed with the work that you’re doing, and you like doing the work." (19:11)

• Legacy & Hope:

  "They might have more ideas for this place and want to continue it and make it their own too, and grow on it. And I hope that that can come with the legacy of this ranch too." – Brianna Morrison (19:56)

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6. Killer Whales and Dolphins: An Unlikely Alliance

Segment: 20:31–23:23
Reporter: Yasmin Raneia

• Discovery: Off B.C.’s coast, scientists observed killer whales teaming up with Pacific white-sided dolphins to hunt salmon.
  • Keith Holmes, scientist:

    "It’s really unique in the animal world to see dolphins and killer whales foraging together." (20:57)

  • While tagging whales, researchers noticed orcas went silent to listen to dolphins, whose echolocation helped both find prey.

    "The killer whale was going quiet." (21:38)

  • The whales would catch the big chinook salmon; dolphins ate the scraps.

    "At the end of a successful fishing trip, everybody gets to eat." – Andrew Trite, study co-author (22:07)

• Frequency: Observed over 250 times in one summer.
• Adaptation:
  • Janie Ray, BC Whales:

    "It’s not surprising that they would learn that in order to survive, especially in this day and age... they really do need to work together." (22:30)

• Broader Implications:
  • Such cooperation may help overcome challenges like noisy ship traffic.

    "Could be that it becomes more challenging for resident killer whales to find their prey because of acoustic masking, so potentially it could be advantageous to have cooperative foraging with other animals." – Sarah Fortune, Dalhousie (22:49)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I felt ambushed because it happened so quickly.” — Warren Chappell on being photographed at the U.S. border (02:18)
• “It creates a huge distraction and disruption.” — Kathleen Petty on the recall campaigns in Alberta (07:13)
• “It’s going to become a huge industrial zone and it’s not going to be the beautiful little town on the St. Lawrence River.” — Ellen Reeves, Contrecoeur resident (11:53)
• “You can hear them wriggling.” — On rice worms infesting Saskatchewan wild rice (15:50)
• “We’ve diversified our ranch and it’s a good opportunity to get extra income that way, too.” — Cindy Marr, Alberta rancher (18:17)
• “It’s really unique... dolphins and killer whales foraging together.” — Keith Holmes, scientist (20:57)
• “At the end of a successful fishing trip, everybody gets to eat.” — Andrew Trite (22:07)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. border photos & biometrics: 00:42–04:22
• Alberta politics & pipelines: 04:22–09:51
• Montreal port expansion: 09:56–13:30
• Rice worms in Saskatchewan: 14:22–17:28
• Agritourism & farm future: 17:28–20:05
• Whale/dolphin alliance: 20:31–23:23

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Tone & Takeaways

Your World Tonight remains measured, empathetic, and Canada-focused, balancing policy detail with frontline voices. The episode weaves together major national shifts—at the border, in politics, the economy, the environment, and even in the animal kingdom—showing how they impact individual Canadians and local communities. With a holiday vibe, the episode highlights both challenges and the resourcefulness of Canadians adapting to a changing world.

Transcript

[A]

There are two kinds of Canadians. Those who feel something when they hear this music.

[B]

And those who've been missing out so far.

[A]

I'm Chris Howden.

[C]

And I'm Nil Kergzel. We are the co hosts of as It Happens. And every day we speak with people at the center of the day's most hard hitting, heartbreaking and sometimes hilarious news stories. Also, we have puns here. Why as It Happens is one of Canada's longest running and most beloved shows. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

This is a CBC podcast. Doing this at the land ports of entry. The logistics are going to be very difficult.

[B]

It's the new US Rule facing every Canadian heading south. A biometric border measure unwrapped during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

[D]

Definitely not helping encourage foreigners come to the United States.

[B]

Welcome to youo World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. Also on the program, as the worm turns.

[C]

We never had these things and now they're starting to pop up everywhere.

[B]

The little pest causing big problems across some North Saskatchewan crops and why it's so hard to curb its hunger.

[C]

Once we understand what it is, what they are, then we can figure out the life cycle of the things, right? And then we can begin thinking about ways to mitigate the problem.

[B]

And we'll introduce you to an animal kingd collaboration that's turned old ocean foes into a new alliance. It's not surprising that they would learn that in order to survive, especially in this day and age, they really do need to work together. If you are heading into the US Anytime soon, prepare to say cheese. Starting today, US Authorities will snap photos of every Canadian crossing the border, no matter if they're coming or going. Sophia Harris explains what's happening and why there's no getting around it.

[C]

There were two gentlemen in officer clothes. One of them had a handheld camera and took a picture of me.

[E]

Warren Chappell had an unsettling experience at Cleveland's international airport. He says just before boarding his flight home to Toronto, a border officer snapped his photo, offering no explanation.

[C]

Well, I was surprised. I was aghast. I was. I felt ambushed because it happen so quickly.

[E]

U.S. customs and Border Protection is ramping up its facial biometrics program, photographing international travelers and using facial comparison technology to confirm their identities.

[C]

All of our arrival systems are now utilizing facial comparison.

[E]

Close to a decade ago, the US Rolled out the technology at airports for international arrivals. Canada did the same. Now the US Plans to photograph travelers entering and leaving the country by all modes of transportation. Full implementation could take several years, but technology that photographs passengers inside vehicles is expected to be in place at land borders in 2026. U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders worries it could cause delays doing this at the.

[D]

Land ports of entry. The logistics are going to be very.

[C]

Difficult, especially when you have a carload.

[D]

Of, you know, kids.

[E]

Meanwhile, the US has already started snapping photos at dozens of airports and international departures, something Chappelle discovered unwittingly.

[C]

I was not alerted that this might happen, and I was not given a choice to have the picture taken.

[E]

In Canada, all travelers can choose not to be photographed. Canadians visiting the U.S. did have that right. But starting today, a new Trump administration rule makes it mandatory for non US Citizens to take part.

[B]

At cbp, our priority mission is the security of our borders.

[E]

In a recently posted CBP video on social media, a border officer outlines the agency's motives.

[B]

By using advanced technology like facial biometrics. We not only add an extra layer of security, but we also streamline the.

[C]

Inspection process at entry.

[E]

But lawyer Saunders says the program's expansion could serve as a deterrent for Canadians traveling to the US which is already in steep decline.

[D]

It's definitely not helping encourage foreigners come.

[C]

To the United States, and I just was taken aback.

[E]

After his experience, Chappelle says he's reconsidering further travel to the country. Sophia Harris, CBC News, Toronto.

[B]

From a pipeline deal with Ottawa to a grassroots bid to leave Canada, it's been a breakneck 2025 for Alberta politics to break down the past year. And what could be ahead? Kathleen Petty, host of CBC podcast West of Center Kathleen, this agreement between Ottawa and Alberta could lead to another pipeline in this country. How big a deal is this for Premier Daniel Smith?

[C]

You know, Susan, it is definitely her flagship accomplishment for 2025. As you know, so much of her political messaging since becoming premier has been about how Ottawa is the enemy and the federal government's policies are holding back the province's energy industry. But, you know, as significant as the MOU is in terms of a political win, frankly, that was the easy part, right? The hard part, yeah, is going to unfold next year as the battles with both the BC government and Coastal First Nation definitely intensify over the prospect of another bitumen pipeline. And in addition, as you know, Alberta needs to find a private sector proponent or consortium to pay for it and build it. Then they submit a proposal to the federal Major Projects Office with that information in place. And the plan also has to show a commitment to the climate requirements that do exist within the mou. On both carbon capture, which is hugely expensive, and a big increase in the industrial carbon price. And that's just the bare bones description of the challenges ahead.

[B]

Yeah, it's an incredible political story and so is this list of recall campaigns that she is facing, her government is facing. How serious a threat are they to Daniel Smith's government?

[C]

Well, as we record this, and I'm signposting this for a reason, because the number keeps growing. But the number of petitions as it stands right now that have been approved to go ahead is that 21, 20 target UCP MLAs and yes, the premier is among them. But as I said, the number is expected to grow. Although the bar for triggering a recall vote has been lowered, it's still a daunting task. Right. You need signatures from 60% of the number of people who voted in a riding, you know, the riding that you're talking about in the last election. It has to be gathered over a 90 day period. And most observers actually think few of them will ultimately succeed to get through that. But even if that bar is reached, then there's an actual recall vote which is only successful. More than 50% obviously vote in favor of the recall. And should that succeed, then the MLA has to run in a by election, presuming that they want to. So the odds of enough successful recalls to threaten the government's majority really are remote. But I tell you what, it creates a huge distraction and disruption.

[B]

It's disruptive, for sure.

[C]

Most definitely. I mean, the UCP calls the campaigns politically motivated. They say it attempts to overturn democratic elections. But you know, those behind the recall efforts cite several issues, including Smith using the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work and impose a contract and to prevent any court challenges to the government's legislation affecting transgender people. And how all these recalls unfold, I tell you what, you know, among all the big political stories in this province, this will definitely be one of them.

[B]

Well, Alberta's direct democracy policy is what allows for recalls. It also allows for referenda on policy issues or on separation. Are we going to see that, Kathleen?

[C]

Well, you know, it's going to be so interesting to see where this all lands. Right? The entire country is going to be watching this. There is, first of all, that forever Canadian question, which was essentially an affirmation of Alberta's place in Canada. And a former deputy premier is behind that one and managed to exceed the required number of signatures. And that was under the old rules with a much, much higher for signatures. But he got well beyond that. But Thomas Lukasak actually wants his question put to the legislature for MLAs to vote on as a policy question instead of having it as a province wide referendum. Now that decision will be made by committee, so we don't know what's going to happen to it. But another group which is advocating for separation is preparing now to start collecting signatures for a full referendum on Alberta independence and it's hoping to have a vote on it by October. And the government has cleared the decks to allow the Alberta Prosperity project to proceed without constitutional scrutiny on the question itself. So they are looking for the do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state? So that's the question. Now polling suggests the support isn't there for a yes vote, but there is substantial support among UCP members. So this is a political dynamic Smith is trying to manage and both questions or neither could be put to Albert. So you know what?

[B]

We should say that she wants to stay in Canada. She has said that, right?

[F]

Oh, for sure.

[C]

But she's never said explicitly that she would campaign for that position should there be a referendum. Right. She's just sort of made it a statement. I believe in a sovereign Alberta within the united Canada. So. Because that's the question that has been put to her. So fair to say that, you know, keep an eye on Alberta, Susan, because the drama is pretty much baked in.

[B]

We will not take our eyes off it. Thanks, Kathleen.

[C]

Thanks, Susan.

[B]

That's Kathleen Petty, host of the CBC podcast West of Centre, speaking to us from Calgary. Mark Carney might consider his major projects plan a flagship accomplishment. The prime minister calls it the best way to fire up the economy. One initiative sure is getting some heat. It's a port expansion near Montreal worth billions, as Eli Glassner explains. Critics wonder if the money pledged is a missed opportunity.

[F]

Afternoon at the Port of Montreal as shipping containers are picked up and sorted like children's toy blocks. The port handles 2,500 trucks per day, 80 trains a week and over 2,000 ships per year. Julie Gascoigne is a Montrealer who fell in love with the industry. Now she's the port's CEO. But her port has a problem. She says it's reaching capacity.

[G]

If you increase by 6% the cargo that used to go to us that now goes to another destination.

[B]

This port's full.

[F]

It's full to create space. In September, Ottawa announced plans to fast track the expansion of a terminal in Contrecoeur, a project which Ottawa says will create thousands of jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars. 50 kilometers down the St. Lawrence from Montreal, cranes are busy removing trees in Contrecoeur. Residents of the Quebec community say they're worried about their quality of life.

[B]

They moved here to be in a quiet and beautiful place.

[C]

They did not move here to live.

[B]

In a port in an industrial zone for sure.

[F]

Ellen Reeves is a spokesperson for the citizens group for Kontakur with an impact assessment report predicting an increase in truck traffic to as much as 1200 a day for her community's future.

[E]

It's dead.

[C]

It will be dead.

[B]

It's going to become a huge industrial.

[C]

Zone and it's not going to be.

[B]

The beautiful little town on the St. Lawrence River.

[F]

But the Port of Montreal's CEO says cont occur makes sense.

[G]

You've got Highway 30, you've got the railway that's already there, you've got the power with of course hydro, we secured all the power for the terminal and you have access to huge amount of markets.

[C]

So that project should have taken place 20, 30 years ago.

[F]

Maritime shipping expert Jean Paul Rodrigue says this expansion is too little, too late.

[C]

Meanwhile, the position of Montreal became increasingly, you could say marginalized in terms of the big trade because the ships were getting bigger.

[F]

He points out the trend in container shipping is towards so called megaships, far too large to travel and dock on the St. Lawrence. Rodriguez says the federal government should have put its money into expanding the deep water port in Quebec City.

[C]

Instead there was investment committed by one of the largest terminal operators in the world, which was HPH and the largest Canadian rail line, cn.

[F]

But that plan was scuttled by the federal government in 2021. While the port of Montreal says the Contacre expansion is a better site because of its access to markets and transportation systems. Rodrigue worries as Canada increasingly pivots to trade with Asia, Montreal could be shut out of the larger ship traffic. It depends on. Eli Glassner, CBC News, Montreal.

[B]

Coming up, appetite for destruction. The creepy Crawley invader throwing northern Saskatchewan rice crops into crisis. Plus the great escape. How some Alberta ranchers are trying to future proof their farms with green silo getaways. And later we'll have this story.

[G]

I'm Yasmin Raniya in Vancouver. Researchers say they have observed some strange animal behavior off the B.C. coast.

[C]

We were hearing the dolphins echolocating and as we started to compare things, we were noticing that the killer whale was going quiet.

[G]

What they saw was an unlikely hunting party that could help both whales and dolphins survive. I'll bring you that story later on youn World Tonight.

[B]

It's been a challenging year across Canada's agricultural sector. Record fires in some regions, historic drought in others. But for some Saskatchewan farmers, the big problem is a wriggly pest chowing down on a critical crop. Alexander Silberman now with the details of the rice worm and the efforts to stop it.

[D]

On a remote northern lake in Saskatchewan's Boreal forest, Tommy Smith is driving a propeller powered boat to harvest wild rice, a traditional food for Cree communities for generations. But as the rice gets bagged, they can see rice worms feasting on their harvest.

[C]

It is a huge lot.

[D]

Smith and his wife gathered just 20 bags last harvest. The average before the rice worms, 400.

[C]

You depend on rice for a lot.

[A]

Of things, so it's pretty devastating.

[D]

Wild rice is a major economic driver. In many northern Saskatchewan villages, a good harvest can bring in as much as $100,000 for a family. But at the local rice weighing station, stacked bags of purchased rice waiting to head to the processing plant are crawling with worms. So many, you can hear them wriggling. They're removed during processing, but it takes longer.

[C]

These worms are getting to be a big problem.

[D]

Lionel Smith, who works as a local buyer, is also a longtime harvester. This season, the bugs are killing so much of his rice, he's decided not to harvest at all.

[C]

20, 30% of your crop is damaged. So we don't even pick that area because we can tell that it's heavily infested by worms.

[D]

Researchers are now testing a type of trap using pheromones to attract the insects away from the rice. Experts don't know exactly why the worms are making their way north from Manitoba and the U.S. it's kind of like.

[C]

The perfect storm in many ways, I think, and we're really trying to find the best way to mitigate them.

[D]

Tim Charbel is a professor of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. He believes forest fires could be one of the causes.

[C]

You get new growth. It provides an opportunity to the rice worm moths.

[D]

On Agamic Lake in northern Saskatchewan, Phyllis Smith is starting the fall harvest using a traditional airboat to scoop the rice off the surface of the shallow water.

[C]

Every year, it seems to get worse.

[D]

While hard rice tumbles out of some kernels, others are empty. The worms are already hurting the crop. Smith is also considering leaving the industry behind.

[C]

He almost feel like there's no use for me having a harvesting boat. So I almost want to.

[D]

She says the search for a solution to save her livelihood can't come soon enough. Alexander Silberman, CBC News, near Pinehouse Saskatchewan.

[B]

Some farmers are using science to save their farms. Others are turning to social platforms. Kyle Baks looks at the growing trend of agritourism.

[A]

After storing grain for decades, these two story metal bins now house guests from around the world who want a taste of farm life on the Canadian prairies.

[C]

I grew up on a grain farm, always loved the idea of granaries.

[A]

The grain bins were book solid all summer long, says Cindy Marr. On land where 300 cattle graze, there's a living room, kitchen and bathroom. The upstairs bedroom has a large window with views of the pasture and mountains. Western art and old cowboy photos hang on the round interior walls.

[E]

We've diversified our ranch and it's a.

[C]

Good opportunity to get extra income that way, too.

[A]

It's also aimed at keeping this land in the family. Succession planning is a growing problem facing many farmers. Agritourism is one way to bridge a generational gap, enticing the children of farmers to stay in farming. Cindy's daughter in law, Peyton, more and.

[B]

More you can't be just a rancher.

[C]

You're always looking for ways to branch.

[G]

Out while the goal and the dream is to ranch.

[B]

But it doesn't always work that way.

[A]

About $300 billion worth of farmland will change hands over the next decade as the average age of farmers nears 60 years old. But some farms can be too big or too small to easily pass on.

[B]

It's one of the most pressing issues right now in the agricultural industry.

[A]

Rebecca Perk Stevenson is a University of Alberta professor who studies succession planning on family farms.

[C]

It's a type of industry where you.

[B]

May have worked your entire life with your own identity is really enmeshed with the work that you're doing, and you.

[C]

Like doing the work.

[B]

It's been a fun adventure so far.

[A]

Brianna Morrison's kids are young, but she's already thinking decades ahead. She converted five grain bins into hotel rooms and began renting them this summer.

[C]

We stayed very, very busy. We're starting to kind of book into.

[A]

Next year as well, each filled with Western decor, from bull head cabinet handles to cowboy prints on the shower curtain. The grain bins are on the land her family has farmed for three generations near Pincher Creek in southwest Alberta. Fingers crossed, she says her kids will want to join the family business.

[B]

They might have more ideas for this.

[C]

Place and want to continue it and make it their own too, and grow on it. And I hope that that can come with the legacy of this ranch too.

[A]

For now, she's focusing on marketing and hospitality to keep welcoming guests to the ranch while still looking after the animals. Kyle Backs CBC News near Twin Butte, Alberta.

[B]

We end tonight with a whale of a tale about two arch enemies who set aside their divisive ways to form an unlikely underwater team up. Here's Yasmin Renea with the story.

[G]

Underwater video shows a northern resident killer whale swimming behind a pod of Pacific white sided dolphins off the B.C. coast, all on a quest to find Chinook salmon.

[A]

It's really unique in the animal world to see dolphins and killer whales foraging together.

[G]

Scientist and drone pilot Keith Holmes first spotted the unusual behavior by accident while doing field work off Vancouver Island.

[C]

To be honest, at first I was a little bit annoyed because the whole point of the story of our research.

[A]

Had nothing to do with dolphins. But then you start seeing them doing foraging dives together.

[G]

Researchers with the University of British Columbia, Halifax's Dalhousie University and other groups then began tracking the marine mammals study. Co author Andrew Trite says suction cup tags were temporarily attached to some whales so that researchers could watch and listen to the whales interactions with dolphins.

[C]

We were hearing the dolphins echolocating and as we started to compare things we were noticing that the killer whale was going quiet.

[G]

Turns out the orca was listening to the dolphins, who were diving deep into the ocean to search for large chinook salmon prey that dolphins would like to eat but can't catch on their own and that are too big for them to consume whole. Researchers saw the orca make the kill and share with its pod, and the dolphins got the scraps.

[C]

So it works out for both parties. Everyone's happy at the end of a successful fishing trip, everybody gets to eat.

[G]

And it's no fluke. Researchers saw dolphins swim near whales more than 250 times in one summer. Janie Ray, founder of the nonprofit BC Wales, who wasn't involved in the study, says orcas have had to adapt to changing ecosystems and less salmon.

[B]

It's not surprising that they would learn that in order to survive, especially in this day and age when food may not be as accessible as it once was, that they really do need to work together.

[G]

That teamwork could be critical in helping marine mammals deal with noisy ship traffic, says Dalhousie marine biologist Sarah Fortune.

[C]

Could be that it becomes more challenging for resident killer whales to find their prey because of acoustic masking, so potentially it could be advantageous to have cooperative foraging with other animals.

[G]

Researchers also wonder if southern resident killer whales, considered endangered in Canada partly because of the lack of salmon, could also benefit from working with other kinds of marine mammals to find their food. Yasmine? Yes, CBC News, Vancouver.

[B]

And that's it for this holiday edition of youf World Tonight for for Friday, December 26th. I'm Susan Bonner. Thanks for joining us.

[D]

For more cbc podcasts, go to cbc ca podcasts.