This week is Volunteers' Week! ORCA's vital conservation work is only possible thanks to our dedicated Marine Mammal Surveyors and OceanWatchers. ORCA volunteers give up their time to citizen science, collecting vital data on whales, dolphins and porpoises from ferries, cruise ships and from land.
Our highly trained Marine Mammal Surveyors board ferries leaving ports across the UK to conduct scientific surveys recording the species seen, where they are and what they are doing. Each survey team is made up of three or four Marine Mammal Surveyors, led by an ORCA Team Leader, an experienced Marine Mammal Surveyor who has undergone specific training to lead the survey team.
ORCA surveys could not run without our incredible Team Leaders. Their primary role is ensuring the survey team is supported, collecting the data as per the ORCA Survey Protocol, and upholding the reputation of ORCA when on board ferries and cruise ships. Our Team Leaders ensure all of our surveys run smoothly and everyone in the team has a great time!
Last Saturday, our dedicated ORCA Team Leaders joined ORCA staff for a day of online training. The day was an opportunity for all of ORCA's Team Leaders and Trainee Team Leaders to take part in workshops designed to support them in their roles, as well as having updates from ORCA staff on a range of topics including how ORCA's data is used and updates on ORCA surveys last year and this year. The day was also a fantastic opportunity for Team Leaders and Trainee Team Leaders to network, ask ORCA staff questions and share ideas.
Thank you to all of our Team Leaders, Marine Mammal Surveyors and OceanWatchers. We are so grateful for everything you do for ORCA and without you our vital conservation work protecting whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats around the world would not be possible.
ORCA's vital conservation work is made possible by our incredible network of volunteer Marine Mammal Surveyors and OceanWatchers. Why not train to become an ORCA volunteer yourself?