When it comes to protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises, the truth is simple: good decisions depend on good data. But even in UK waters, our picture is still patchy - especially offshore, in and around Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and then there’s the impact of the weather and the seasons. That’s a problem when these highly mobile species are facing multiple, overlapping pressures, from changing prey availability and underwater disturbance to bycatch risk, water quality impacts and the accelerating effects of climate change.

That’s why we’re hugely excited to share some big news: ORCA and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC, the UK Government’s advisory body on offshore marine environment)) are launching a new national pilot programme designed to close key evidence gaps for cetaceans in UK waters. It’s a partnership that brings together JNCC’s role in convening priorities for national monitoring and advice, and ORCA’s proven model of delivering high-quality surveys at sea through trained surveyors and “platforms of opportunity”.