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ORCA is dedicated to the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises and their habitats worldwide.
ORCA’s survey work played a vital role in securing a Marine Protected Area (Special Area of Conservation) in the North Sea for harbour porpoises!
Working alongside the JNCC, around 90% of the evidence used to define this protected area came from citizen science programmes.
Experience one of the top five places in the world to see whales and dolphins on an ORCA Sea Safari with Brittany Ferries, crossing the Bay of Biscay in search of incredible marine life!
@brittanyferries
👉 orca.org.uk/get-involved...
#ORCA #SeaSafari
The fin whale is the second largest animal on Earth, reaching up to 27 metres in length.
Sleek and fast, it has a long grey body, a white underside, and distinctive asymmetrical jaw colouring - white on the right and dark grey on the left -which helps with feeding.
#ORCA #FinWhales
By signing up to Give As You Live and installing the free browser extension, you can shop with over 6,000 retailers as normal, and a donation is automatically generated for ORCA when you check out!
It’s quick to set up, easy to use, and costs you nothing!!
www.giveasyoulive.com/join/orca
Written by ORCA patron and renowned wildlife expert Mark Carwardine, this beautifully illustrated guide draws on over 30 years of experience studying and photographing whales, dolphins, and porpoises around the world.
@markcarwardine
👉 orca.org.uk/shop/mark-ca...
Our 2026 Sea Safari trips are now live, departing from Plymouth and Portsmouth and offering an incredible opportunity to see whales and dolphins right on your doorstep!
2026 Dates:
👉 8–10 July 2026
👉 5–7 August 2026
👉 26–28 August 2026
See more orca.org.uk/get-involved...
We support companies in understanding how to watch wildlife responsibly by embedding best practice into their operations.
We also provide a clear framework to help ensure that external operators act in a responsible, ethical way!
Begin with our Introduction to Whale and Dolphin Identification course!
This course is a key first step toward becoming an ORCA OceanWatcher or Marine Mammal Surveyor, or it can be taken on its own if you simply want to deepen your knowledge of these incredible ocean giants. ✨
orca.org.uk/training
Unlike most baleen whales, the gray whale lacks rorqual pleats and instead has a distinctive blunt, triangular-shaped snout with a long, slightly arched mouth line.
Gray whales are also easily recognised by their grey, mottled bodies, marbled with pale scars and often covered in barnacles!
Did you know that over a third of all whale, dolphin, and porpoise species worldwide can be found in UK and European waters?
From coastal sightings to offshore encounters, our seas are home to an incredible diversity of marine life, making them exciting waters for cetacean spotting!
It’s ordinary people like you who make what we do possible.
Our mission is simple: oceans alive with whales and dolphins. And anyone can help make that happen. ORCA gives people the chance to turn care into action.
Our work is global, and our evidence drives real change!
The Introduction to Whale and Dolphin Identification course!
It gives you the core skills to recognise species in the Northeast Atlantic , plus expert tips from professional whale watchers – so you can confidently tell your harbour porpoise from your humpback whale.
👉 orca.org.uk/training/int...
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You can sign up here 👉 orca.org.uk/newsletter
A new report has shown that England is falling behind on its legally binding environmental targets, with 2030 fast approaching.
Right now, UK seas meet just 2 of 15 measures of good environmental health, so stronger protection in Marine Protected Areas is essential!
The harbour porpoise is the smallest cetacean and the only porpoise found in European waters!
Sadly, numbers have fallen across Europe due to pollution, noise, heavy boat traffic and overfishing - but the biggest threat is getting caught in fishing nets.
Our team are committed to protecting whales and dolphins by focusing on key “hotspot” areas.
These areas are often difficult to study but as human activity expands to new parts of the ocean, monitoring these remote areas of the ocean is more important than ever.
Whilst we started out with a focus on the Northeast Atlantic, our citizen scientists citizen scientists are now having an impact globally.
This worldwide reach means we can track, research and protect whales and dolphins everywhere - from polar waters to tropical seas, and across every major ocean ✨
In 2024, 46 species were recorded, with eight of them appearing in ORCA’s dataset for the very first time!
This is down to the hard work of our incredible army of citizen scientists and the global growth of our monitoring work, helping to protect whales and dolphins around the world.
Want to get onboard as a volunteer Marine Mammal Surveyor?
Our one-day, live online training courses are interactive and give you all the skills you need to identify and record whales, dolphins and porpoises during offshore surveys.
Take a look 👉 orca.org.uk/training/mar...
What more would you like to know about the false killer whale? 🐋
#ORCA #FalseKillerWhale
ORCA’s data plays a vital role in influencing policy and driving real change for whales and dolphins worldwide.
Beyond surveys at sea, we use this evidence in key international conservation forums to push for stronger protection where it’s most needed!
Is reading more on your 2026 to-do list?
Our online store is packed with fascinating reads for every level of ocean curiosity - whether you’re just starting out or already obsessed with marine life!
Take a look 👉 orca.org.uk/shop
Book your place on our Marine Mammal Surveyor Course!
Join us for an interactive, one-day live online training course and take your first step into marine conservation.
- Saturday 18th April 2026
- Online via Zoom
Visit orca.org.uk/training to learn more!
Around 50,000 ships are currently travelling the globe, and maritime traffic is expected to triple by 2050!
Protecting cetaceans means understanding risks and pushing for smarter routes, better technology and greater awareness at sea!
Humpback whales are large baleen whales!
They have a flat rostrum with rounded tubercles, dark colouring with a lighter underside, and very long pectoral fins, that can reach up to 5 metres!
Plus, each whale has unique markings on the underside of its tail flukes!
Our work doesn’t stop in the UK - we’re proud to be making a difference across the globe. 🌍
Our Ocean Conservationists work not only in UK waters and the wider North East Atlantic, but increasingly worldwide!
#GlobalConservation #OceanConservationists #ProtectOurOceans
Our Ocean Conservationists educate and inspire passengers throughout their voyage, sharing expert knowledge and engaging stories that bring the marine wildlife around them to life. 🌟
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Sowerby’s beaked whales are sleek, slender cetaceans with a long beak and a small, rounded melon, giving them a more dolphin-like shape than other beaked whales.
Their curved dorsal fin sits well back on the body, and when they surface, the beak often breaks the water first!
ORCA is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our incredible team of Ocean Conservationists, working at sea in the Bay of Biscay from Rosslare, Portsmouth or Plymouth.
If you’re ready to play a key role this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
@brittanyferries
White-beaked dolphins are large, powerful animals with distinctive markings that make them a favourite to spot at sea.
They have a short, noticeable beak (not always fully white), a tall curved dorsal fin, and striking white and pale grey patterns along their sides.
Have you seen one?
