This June marks a milestone that means a great deal to all of us at ORCA - 25 years of protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises across the world. A quarter‑century of sightings, science, community, and the extraordinary people who make this work possible.
To celebrate, we’re opening our doors wider than ever before.
Free training, all month long
For the whole of June, we’re offering free access to our Citizen Scientist Bundle, our beginner‑friendly training that teaches anyone how to spot whales and dolphins, understand their behaviour, and contribute to real conservation science.
Whether you’re brand new to marine wildlife or you’ve been with ORCA for years, this is your chance to learn the skills that power our monitoring network and help protect marine mammals for generations to come.
Why citizen science matters more than ever
ORCA has always been powered by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Every volunteer who learns to identify a fin, record a sighting or share their passion helps expand our understanding of the ocean and the species that depend on it.
As we look ahead to the next 25 years, one thing is clear: the ocean needs more voices, more data and more advocates. And that starts with people like you.
If you know someone who loves the ocean, a friend, a colleague, a family member, this is the perfect moment to invite them to join the ORCA community. Together, we want to recruit 2,500 new citizen scientists this month.
Returning to conservation: June is your moment
If you’ve started one of our courses before but didn’t get the chance to finish, we’ve got good news. Your course is now free for the entire month of June - simply re-enrol on the course and you can get back on track with starting your citizen science journey.
Reignite your passion for whales and dolphins and join thousands of people learning how to protect them.
What's on this month
As well as welcoming hundreds of new citizen scientists this month, June is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months in ORCA’s history for plenty of other reasons. Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming:
World Oceans Day - 8 June
Our anniversary aligns with the biggest day in the marine conservation calendar, a global moment to celebrate the ocean and inspire action to protect it
State of Cetaceans - 9th Edition (coming soon!)
We’ll be releasing the latest edition of our flagship annual report, sharing insights from a year of data collected by our incredible community.
Portsmouth International Port Community Open Day - 13 June
Come and meet the ORCA team, explore our work, and discover how our data is shaping ship‑strike mitigation, policy change and ocean protection. This free event is hosted by Portsmouth International Port.
Citizen scientist spotlights
Every day this month, we’ll be sharing stories from the people who make ORCA’s mission possible - the volunteers, supporters and partners who’ve shaped our journey over the past 25 years.
Thank you for being part of ORCA's story
From our earliest surveys to today’s growing network of citizen scientists, ORCA’s achievements have always been built on community. Your passion, your curiosity and your commitment to the ocean have carried us through 25 years of change, challenge and progress.
Main image: Brydes whale (credit: Ross Wheeler)
Now, as we celebrate this milestone, we’re inviting you to stand with us - to learn, to share, to inspire, and to help protect whales and dolphins for the next 25 years.