ORCA

The State of Cetaceans

In June 2026, we published our 9th State of Cetaceans report.

At a time when the health of our planet’s oceans is under immense pressure, understanding the lives of the whales, dolphins and porpoises that inhabit them has never been more important - or more urgent. These extraordinary animals are not just charismatic icons of the wild, but vital indicators of ocean health. They live in every ocean on Earth, often far from human view, yet they are increasingly exposed to the cumulative impact of human activities - from climate change to overfishing, noise pollution to vessel strikes.

With our surveys expanding globally, we are gaining even greater insight about marine mammal populations in more diverse and remote parts of the ocean. Our work on vessel strikes and wider threats to cetaceans and their habitats has moved onto an international stage, and so our report now reflects this increasing global dimension to our work.

The State of Cetaceans 2026

The latest report in our State of Cetaceans series celebrates ORCA's 25th anniversary - reflecting both the latest survey findings and the growing conservation value of the long-term dataset ORCA has built since effort-based monitoring began in 2006.

The report showcases how ORCA’s work has grown from survey activity on a single ferry route into a global citizen science monitoring programme - more than 1.8million kilometres of survey effort, the equivalent to travelling more than 46 times around the Earth’s equator. Trained Marine Mammal Surveyors and Ocean Conservationists now collect data across all of the world’s oceans, helping to identify important habitats, detect changes in distribution, support Marine Protected Area management and inform practical measures to reduce threats to whales, dolphins and porpoises.

As pressures on the ocean continue to grow, ORCA’s work shows that trained citizen scientists, working consistently and at scale, can make a major contribution to understanding and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises around the world. It is an evidence base for conservation.

Report Overview

Over 1.8million kilometres of ocean surveyed

Between 2006 and 2025, ORCA completed 4,731 dedicated surveys, covering 1,848,758 kilometres and spending 60,059 hours and 30 minutes actively searching for cetaceans. An incredible 363,193 individual animals have been recorded from 54 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises

All oceans now regularly surveyed

The geographical scope of ORCA’s work has expanded from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean to cover all of the world’s oceans including the Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean which are now monitored every year

Population estimates for six commonly seen species around the UK

Our long time series has enabled population estimates and distribution insights for six commonly seen species around the UK; harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Risso's dolphin, white-beaked dolphin and minke whale. Re-emphasising the importance of citizen science to complement the once-every-decade large-scale surveys

Stopping ships colliding with whales

With an ever increasing risk of ship collisions threatening whales in the world’s oceans, our work around whale collisions has expanded significantly over the past 25 years. Long-term collaborations with key shipping partners enables us to conduct bespoke real-time research in some of the world's highest risk areas, which is feeding directly into vessel strike training and spatial risk-reduction work

Thank you ORCA...

ORCA continues to play a critical role - quietly and unassumingly - in efforts to care for whales, dolphins and porpoises in European waters.

I still marvel at the way it so successfully relies on an outstanding and tireless army of trained volunteers: people, from all walks of life and of all ages, who give their time to make a real difference. Quite simply, they get the job done. The world would certainly be a poorer place without them.

Mark Carwardine Marine Wildlife Expert, Photographer and ORCA Patron

Download your copy

You may also be interested in