Our Conservation Monitoring Officer, Ellie, and ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyor, Charlotte travelled to the Southern Ocean and boarded HX Expeditions MS Fram this week to start ORCA’s Southern Ocean Distance Sampling Project for the 2024-2025 Antarctic season.
Teams of ORCA Research Scientists will be collecting data on large whales in the Southern Ocean from HX Expedition’s MS Fram vessel until March 2025, for an exciting project working in collaboration with the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), British Antarctic Survey, HX, and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The project aims to better understand the abundance and distribution of recovering whale populations in the Southern Ocean, with a particular focus on large baleen whales around South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. ORCA devised and conducted a bespoke research project for the 2022-2023 Antarctic season, and this important research has now begun again for the third consecutive year. By identifying high density areas, ORCA hopes to enable mitigation measures to be implemented to protect these incredible animals in this area where shipping traffic is increasing. Data collected during the first and second years of the project has already been used to safeguard whales in these areas, contributing to seasonal protected areas for large whales around South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula – conservation in action!
Ellie and Charlotte have settled into life on board Fram, delivering presentations to guests about the project and conducting training with the Expedition Team and other Research Scientists on board who will be assisting with the distance sampling bridge surveys. Although the team assisting have already carried out extensive online training in preparation, this was a great opportunity to answer any questions and practice using the ORCA survey equipment.
Ellie and Charlotte have already recorded sei and humpback whales during their surveys around the Falkland Islands, and are excited to be continuing with more bridge distance sampling surveys as they approach South Georgia over the next few days.
The only way we can protect whales and dolphins is by understanding their distribution, and so monitoring is vital for effective conservation. Donate today to help ORCA continue to identify and study important whale hotspots around the world by visiting www.orca.org.uk/donate