In February, ORCA Ocean Conservationists had the opportunity to sail with Ambassador seeking winter sunshine and we weren’t the only ocean voyagers searching for some seasonal warmth!
Migration, put simply, is the movement of people or animals from one place to another. Whilst it does indicate a departure from one’s usual place of residence; it is not typically applied to our cruise adventures! Especially when compared to the vast migratory patterns of whales, dolphins, and porpoises; collectively known as cetaceans. For migrating cetaceans, it isn’t a one-off trip, it is a repeated event throughout their lifetimes. These animals have been following the same migration routes for thousands of years, but human activity is increasingly making their journeys more perilous.
Whales are true global travellers. They can display recurring, seasonal journeys over 5000 miles with no GPS, no navigational charts, no pulling over and asking for directions. Commonly, whales migrate from lower latitudes in winter, with more plentiful feeding grounds near the poles, to higher latitudes in summer, with warmer calving conditions to begin raising the next generation of voyagers.
Onboard Ambassador’s Ambition, we saw fellow travellers in the Bay of Biscay when observing multiple large whale blows, the clouds of air and condensed water vapor that form when a whale surfaces to breathe. These sightings were recorded on our ORCA Oceanwaters App which utilises citizen science for collecting data at both land and sea!
There are different movement patterns amongst species and not every cetacean migrates. We also got to see the resident population of pilot whales in the Canary Islands, where the temperate and deep waters that house giant squid attract cetaceans to stay in the area year-round.
Other marine life on the move were common dolphins, with the sauna reported to be a particularly good location for spotting! Common dolphins are, as their name suggests commonly found in temperate and tropical waters globally. Some populations do undertake long migrations, but they are better known for their ability to form super pods which can consist of hundreds or thousands of individuals from mixed species. Therefore, this OC believes them to be understated by their name; their iconic hourglass markings, nimble jumping skills, and more common sightings make them a joy to see in any waters!
However, the seasonal movements of cetaceans expose them to more threats. Dolphin migrations often follow the trail of their prey, which humans are also catching for consumption, this creates an increased risk of bycatch and entanglement in fishing gear and causes the deaths of over 9,000 common dolphins in the Bay of Biscay every year.
The extended travel routes taken by cetaceans are dubbed “blue corridors” and they act as migratory ocean superhighways. But shipping lanes often overlap with these routes, creating hazards as our oceans get busier with an increasing number of boats posing a greater risk of vessel strike to cetaceans.
ORCA collaborates with important shipping partners to better understand how whales and ships interact and has helped over one thousand seafarers undergo ORCA vessel strike mitigation training. By being more aware of the threats, improving safety measures and influencing conservation policy, we can help keep these fellow travellers safe. Cetaceans play a huge role in keeping our oceans healthy, so we need to protect them and clear the path for their migrations!
By joining ORCA, you stand alongside others who care about the future of our oceans, all working toward the same vision: oceans alive with whales and dolphins.