ORCA has collated a marine wildlife database of over 3,000 sightings records for the Bay of Biscay and English Channel. These records date back to 1995 when ORCA surveyors first began conducting surveys across the Bay predominantly onboard P&O and Brittany ferries. Since then, numerous organisations and individuals have contributed data to the ORCA database. The advantage of this is that the data are stored electronically and in a single database. ORCA has a policy of distributing this data to any individual or organisation that can use it for research or campaign purposes as long as the aims are to benefit cetacean and other marine wildlife conservation.
All you have to do is request it!
In more recent years (1998 onwards), the quality of the data has improved considerably with surveyors recording sightings position with a Global Positioning System (GPS), survey effort and environmental variables, such as sea state.
Most of the data are from the summer months although ORCA aims to increase coverage in winter months and in wider northeast Atlantic areas over the coming years.
For a list of species recorded between 1998-2002 for which ORCA currently has data, click here.

ORCA cannot be held liable for errors in the dataset. Whilst we aim to ensure the quality of the database, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the dataset.

For further information on the database contact the ORCA Scientific Officer.

Alternatively, if you know you can use the data then download the data request form and return it by post or e-mail to:

ORCA Scientific Officer
6 High Street West
Anstruther
Fife
KY10 3DL

ORCA Scientific Officer

ORCA Has Already Helped...

ORCA’s Scientific Officer has jointly supervised/advised a number of student projects. If you are looking for a student project then please contact the Science Officer directly to discuss this. ORCA aims to meet requests for support as far as possible to data users, although as a voluntary organisation occasionally demands cannot be met. Some of the projects that ORCA data has been used for so far:

Undergraduate students:

Barnard, A-M. 2003. The distribution and migration patterns of cetacean species in the Bay of Biscay and the effects of environmental parameters. Degree in Marine Biology, Portsmouth University, UK.

Kiszka. J. 2003. Analysis of the summer distribution of cetaceans in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay (1998-2002). Degree in Geography, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, Dunkerque, France.

Postgraduate:

Kiszka, J. 2004 (in progress). Habitat preference and ecology of large odontocetes in the Bay of Biscay. Masters degree, University of Dunkerque, France.

Conferences:

Cresswell, G. and Walker, D. 2002. Using visual criteria to assess group composition of Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) in the North Atlantic. Paper presented at the 16th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Liege, Belgium.

Macleod, K. and Walker, D. 2004. Highlighting potential common dolphin-fisheries interactions through seasonal relative abundance data in the western Channel and Bay of Biscay. To be presented at the European Cetacean Society Conference, Kolmarden, Sweden.

Walker, D., Tefler, M. and Cresswell, G. 2001. The status and distribution of beaked whales in the Bay of Biscay. Paper presented at the 15th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Rome, Italy.

School Projects:

ORCA data were used in 2003 by students at Farnham College in their Geographical Information System (GIS) classes!