Cetacean Sightings

Cetacean Sightings WORLDWIDE

ASC is excited to announce a new project for ocean-going adventurers documenting cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and sea turtles. ASC has partnered with leading cetacean observation organizations around the world including the British Columbia Cetacean Sightings Network, Vancouver Aquarium, Allied Whale, and Sea Watch Foundation for this project. We are looking for sailors, rowers and paddlers to take photos and GPS points of cetaceans they see while out on the water. No matter where you are headed on the ocean, we have a project that you can help with. Data will be used by researchers to monitor cetacean populations and migration patterns.

How will the data be used?

The scientists will assess the photographs/video footage collected, confirm species identification and map distribution and occurrences of each species.  This data is crucial and relevant for conservation management of cetaceans.   It will be relevant to State and Federal government organizations and be used for scientific publications. 

How Can You Participate?

If you are planning a kayak, sailing, rowing, or boating expedition on the ocean or along the coast you can help with this project.  Throughout the expedition volunteers would be asked to document:

  • GPS location, time, environmental conditions of sightings
  • note the pod composition (approximate size, adults/calves etc)
  • record behavior (travel/feed/social etc)
  • take photographs (e.g. the underside of humpback whale flukes)
  • and if possible video footage of the species observed

People operating regularly at sea can also perform the very important function of recording the route that they have traveled and logging the cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) that they encounter.  In addition to the data sheets, any photos of whales, dolphins or porpoises can also provide valuable information and in some cases enable the identification of individual animals.