June marked 25 years of ORCA, a quarter‑century of protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises through the power of citizen science. To celebrate, we opened up free access to our Whale & Dolphin Identification Course and OceanWatchers Course for the entire month… and the response was extraordinary.
A record-breaking month of learning and ocean action
- 2,757 people signed up for ORCA’s free training, the biggest wave of new citizen scientists in our history
- 213 people have already completed the Introduction to Whale & Dolphin Identification Course, gaining the skills to spot and identify whales, dolphins and porpoises from land or at sea
- 60 people have gone on to complete the OceanWatchers Course, learning how to collect vital marine mammal data using the OceanWatchers app
- 26 volunteers shared their stories from ferry decks, coastal paths, and even balconies in Madeira - showing the many ways citizen scientists contribute to real conservation
These numbers represent thousands of people choosing to learn, take action and stand up for the ocean.
This month has been such a special moment for us, as we celebrate 25 years of ORCA - 25 years of people coming together to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises, and to give the ocean the voice it so urgently needs.
Sally Hamilton CEO at ORCA
Throughout June, we heard from volunteers past and present about:
- Where they first heard about ORCA
- The range species they’ve seen from whales, dolphins and porpoises to seals, sharks and sunfish
- How it feels contributing to a long-term dataset that helps create safer oceans for marine life
Their stories show what ORCA has always believed… anyone can be a citizen scientist, and every sighting matters.
What this means for the next 25 years
This big birthday wasn’t just a celebration, it was an investment in the future of marine conservation.
More trained citizen scientists means:
- More eyes on the water
- More data feeding into ship‑strike mitigation, policy change and habitat protection
- More people advocating for whales and dolphins in their communities
- A stronger, more resilient monitoring network across UK waters, European waters and beyond
ORCA’s work is powered by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. June proved that the appetite for ocean action is stronger than ever.
To everyone who recorded a video, shared their story, encouraged others to get involved, or helped spread the word: thank you. Your passion, your generosity and your commitment have helped make this celebration a real success.
ORCA has always been powered by people - by ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the ocean. And as we look ahead to the next 25 years, that community will be more important than ever.
So thank you for standing with us, thank you for helping us mark this milestone, and thank you for everything you continue to do for whales, dolphins and porpoises. We could not do this without you.
Sally Hamilton CEO at ORCA
This month reminded us that citizen science isn’t just about the facts and figures, it’s about the ways we connect with our environment, too. It’s the moment someone sees their first whale and decides they want to protect it. It’s the pride of contributing a single sighting to a dataset that informs real policy change. It’s the stories passed between volunteers, past, present and future, that keep the passion alive. ORCA’s 25th anniversary was a glimpse of our future where thousands more people feel empowered to take action, where data drives decisions, and where the ocean has a louder, stronger voice because you chose to be part of it.
Your support powers the science, the training and the community that make safer seas possible.