Another orca calf has been spotted off the coast of Vancouver Island, raising the tally born since last December to five.

The new calf, which has been named L-122, was spotted with its mother L-91 in the waters near near Sooke and Victoria on Tuesday, according to the Centre for Whale Research, which is based in Friday Harbour, Wash.

The mother and baby and other L pod whales spent the afternoon and evening in Haro Strait 'fishing', and by days end were joined by J and K pod members, said a statement released by the researchers.

Another calf born around February, L-121, is also a member of L-pod, and researchers are hopeful the baby boom represents a turn-around for local killer whale populations, including the endangered southern resident population.

Since orca surveys began about 40 years ago, the most orca births recorded in a single year in the region was nine in 1977.

But orca calves only have a 50 per cent survival rate and in 2013 or 2014, none of the calves born survived.