Norwegian Orca Survey

Info

Long-term monitoring of Norwegian killer whales for effective conservation.

Historie

Although very little communication is made about Norwegian killer whales, they actually might represent one of the greatest populations. Their main prey is likely the Atlantic herring (Clupea harrengus), and especially the Norwegian Spring Spawning stock, which has been over-wintering in the fjord system in the Lofoten area from the 1986-87 until roughly 2005. The abundance of killer whales congregating near shore every winter to feed on this rich resource has enabled some long-term research, initiated during the 1980’s. Thanks mainly to Tiu Simila and Dag Vongraven research efforts, foraging ecology of Norwegian killer whales in the winter time is relatively well understood. However, our knowledge about their habitat use and movement pattern the rest of the year remains mostly unknown. As human activities are growing in their environment and being long-lived and slow reproducing mammals, we are truly convinced about the need to fulfill the current gaps in our understanding of this population. Thereby, Norwegian Orca Survey intends to mainly investigate foraging ecology and habitat use of these orcas on a long-term basis.

"Norwegian Orca Survey is a non-profit research organisation dedicated to studying and monitoring killer whales in Norwegian waters. Collecting robust data, building a better understanding of this population's life history, ecology and health status, and putting this knowledge available to management bodies are of crucial importance to achieve effective conservation, and constitute our main objectives. Using ground-breaking research technologies, we generate innovative knowledge,delivered through publications in academic journals. We also investigate stranded marine mammals and conduct interventions to assist animals in distress and promote animal welfare in Norway."