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Marine Mammal Surveyor

Marine Mammal Surveyor

Marine Mammal Surveyors are the backbone of ORCA’s research.

Our dedicated volunteers play a crucial role for ORCA, donating their valuable time so that important marine mammal habitats can be studied and monitored on diverse sea crossings in UK and European waters.

Utilising the UK ferry network, our volunteer Marine Mammal Surveyor teams board ferries leaving ports across the UK to conduct scientific surveys to record the species seen, where they are and what they are doing.

All you need is a passion for whales and dolphins and a reasonable level of fitness to take part in our offshore surveys.

You will need to have undertaken our ‘Introduction to Whales and Dolphin Identification’ course to progress onto the Marine Mammal Surveyor Course. The Introduction to Whale and Dolphin Identification course is hosted on our e-learning platform and is a self-led, online training course. This needs to be completed at least one week prior to the Marine Mammal Surveyor Course.

Marine Mammal Surveyor Course:

During the interactive one-day live, online training course, delivered by members of the ORCA team, you will:

Learn how to conduct structured, scientific, distance-sampling surveys from the bridge of a ferry
Understand ORCA’s distance sampling survey protocol and how to collect effort-based data on whales, dolphins and porpoises
Gain a thorough understanding of the logistics behind taking part in a survey in a team of volunteer citizen scientists on offshore surveys
Learn how to be fully prepared for volunteering on board a ship
Gain all the skills for becoming a citizen scientist

ORCA MMS FAQs Detailed course agenda

How to get involved as an ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyor:

Complete the ‘Introduction to Whales and Dolphin Identification’ online, self-led course on our e-learning platform - This will need to be completed at least one week before the Marine Mammal Surveyor Course
Complete an ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyor training course on a specific date
Become a member of ORCA
Tickets are provided for you for the survey route
Cabins for overnight sailings are provided for you on the survey route
Surveyors are responsible for their own travel to and from the ports
Surveyors are responsible for their own travel insurance and food on board

Book both courses here

Book a place on our Marine Mammal Surveyor Course

Courses are £120 per person, plus £15 for the 'Introduction to Whale and Dolphin Identification' e-learning course.

Courses are open to over 16s (though please note that you must be 18 to participate in a ferry survey and 21 to participate in a cruise survey).

Once you have completed the course and become an ORCA member (starting at £5 per month or £60 per annum), you will then have the opportunity to apply for our offshore surveys (ferry tickets and cabins, where applicable, are provided free of charge).

Please refer to our ORCA Training Course Terms & Conditions for more details.

ORCA Training Course Terms & Conditions

Upcoming Courses

The dates of all three 2025 Marine Mammal Surveyor courses have now been announced, and are available to book:

- FEBRUARY 2025

ONLINE via Zoom - Saturday 1st February 2024 - 9:30am - 4:30pm

- APRIL 2025

ONLINE via Zoom - Saturday 5th April 2024 - 9:30am - 4:30pm

- NOVEMBER 2025

ONLINE via Zoom - Saturday 1st November 2024 - 9:30am - 4:30pm

To book your place, visit our online shop by clicking the button below. Our Marine Mammal Surveyor courses do sell out, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

If you would like to purchase a course place as a gift, please visit our e-learning site, where a range of gift cards are available.

Book the Marine Mammal Surveyor Course Bundle