The State of European Cetaceans is ORCA's report series, documenting the results of its survey findings, and more importantly, drawing conclusions about what this means for whales, dolphins and porpoises in the wild.
With significant and emerging threats continuing to adversely impact these animals and their habitats, ORCA's findings are crucial in providing evidence to conserve these animals in the future.
ORCA's fourth report, The State of European Cetaceans (2019), is the culmination of 13 years’ worth of sightings and environmental data collected during the 558 ORCA surveys conducted between 2006-2018 using vessels of opportunity (namely ferries and cruise ships).
This report summarises the distribution and range of cetacean populations in and around Europe’s waters and identifies marine areas and species that are of greatest importance. This insight is crucial to make authoritative and informed decisions about the protection required for cetaceans.