Boaters worldwide join forces with ORCA to protect whales and dolphins

A growing global partnership between ORCA and The International SeaKeepers Society is giving boaters a powerful new way to support whale and dolphin conservation - simply by doing what they already do best.

At the heart of the initiative is ORCA’s OceanWatchers app, which enables people to record sightings and survey activity directly from their phones. Supported by a simple online training course, the programme makes it easy for anyone regardless of experience to contribute valuable scientific data.

Through SeaKeepers’ DISCOVERY Fleet, privately owned vessels are being transformed into platforms for research, helping scientists access areas that are often difficult to monitor. In just its first year, the initiative recorded more than 440 individual whales, dolphins and porpoises, with over 100 participants across 70 vessels taking part.

The data collected feeds into ORCA’s long-term research, including its State of Cetaceans reporting, supporting efforts to better understand and protect marine mammals worldwide.

Beyond the data, the impact is personal too participants report a deeper connection to the ocean, slowing down to truly observe the wildlife around them.

Whether seasoned or new to the water, OceanWatchers offers a simple way to turn time at sea into meaningful conservation action.