Orca Network's "Whale Sighting Network"

Susan Berta
Orca Network, 2403 S. North Bluff Rd., Greenbank, WA 98253, www.orcanetwork.org, susan@orcanetwork.org, 1-866-ORCANET (672-2638) and (360) 678-3451.

Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network is a unique and effective way to increase awareness of and knowledge about the Southern Resident Community of orcas (J, K and L pods). The Whale Sighting Network also tracks the travels of gray whales, minkes, and the occasional humpback.

The population of the Southern Resident Community has declined a disturbing 20% over the past six years and has recently been listed as "Depleted" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act by the National Marine Fisheries Service. This decline is a reflection of the same problems and issues facing most of the greater Puget Sound marine and watershed ecosystems: declining salmon runs, PCB contamination, and the effects of a rapidly increasing human population.

Through the Whale Sighting Network, observations of orcas and other whales are gathered and disseminated to researchers and volunteers, and posted on our website. There are currently 600 participants in the Whale Sighting Network, including waterfront homeowners, boaters, students, researchers, government agencies, whale watch operators, environmental organizations, elected officials, media, and concerned citizens interested in actively doing something to help Puget Sound and its whale populations.

The results of this project include an expanded database of Puget Sound orca sightings beyond the geographical area currently being studied, to help determine the movements, diet, behavior, and population dynamics of this at-risk community of orcas. With daily email reports, monthly educational programs, and a dynamic website, each participant in the network becomes more aware of the issues threatening our orcas and the greater Puget Sound ecosystem.

Learning about these issues "through the eyes of an orca" reaches out to those beyond "the choir", inspiring and motivating people to take action to clean up Puget Sound and protect and preserve species at risk such as orcas and salmon.