Biologists are excited about the sighting of a rare sei whale off the Pacific coast, eliminating the assumption that the whales are extinct in west coast waters. Department of Fisheries research biologist Thomas Doniol-Valcroze says scientists saw as many as six sei whales swimming with a pod of fin whales. The whale is listed as endangered in Canada’s Species at Risk Act and Doniol-Valcroze said it is gratifying to know they still exist, even if in very low numbers. Sei whales have only been seen off the Pacific coast twice in the last 50 years.