Orca Research & Information Links

Scientific Papers - An archive of related scientific research papers, articles, and abstracts from field research, neuroanatomy, acoustics, toxins, and captivity for deepening understanding of marine mammal science.

The Center for Whale Research
The essential long-term, non-intrusive demographic, acoustic and behavioral studies of free-ranging orcas focusing on the Southern Resident community since 1976. The Center's work provides information about every individual, their associations and family relationships, their travels and population trends from year to year.

OrcaSound
Orcasound connects your headphones to live hydrophones (underwater microphones), your ears to an ocean of sound. Help us explore and conserve marine life around the globe, starting with studying and saving the southern resident killer whales of the Pacific Northwest. As an Orcasound citizen scientist, you can listen for whales or learn more about marine bioacoustics.

Wild Orca
A non-profit organization in Washington State dedicated to supporting research, spreading awareness, and collaborating in the mitigation of threats facing endangered killer whales.

NOAA Fisheries Science Center - Killer Whales
Endangered Southern Resident orcas according to research by NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

North Gulf Oceanic Society
A non-profit organization that specializes in marine mammal research, conservation and education. Our primary projects are the study of the killer whale/orca population off the coast of Alaska and of the humpback whales in Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords.

Whale Net
WhaleNet's interactive educational web site focuses on whales and marine mammal research. WhaleNet is sponsored by Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts with support from the National Science Foundation.

Society for Marine Mammalogy
The scientific community that studies and publishes research reports about marine mammals.

Orca Lab
A small land-based whale research station nestled against the evergreen forest of Hanson Island in the waters of the "Inside Passage" of northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

The Whale Museum
The Whale Museum attempts to increase the public's understanding and appreciation of orcas, other marine mammals, and their marine environment. Located in Friday Harbor, WA, the museum has exhibits devoted to whales, their environment and behavior.

Cascadia Research
A non-profit scientific and education organization based in Olympia, Washington, founded in 1979 to conduct research to manage and protect marine mammals. Focus is on gray whales, humpbacks and blue whales, with interest in all marine mammals.

Atlantic Whales
An on-line catalogue of whale sightings in the northwest Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland and Labrador.

National Geographic - Killer Whale (Orca)
A brief article about orcas and list of "Fast Facts."

Orca Research Trust
Founded by Dr. Ingrid N. Visser in 1992, Orca Research Trust is dedicated to orca research in the South Pacific, including photographic identification of individual orca, as well as behavioural observations.

Salmon/Habitat Links

Dam Sense
Dam Sense is a 501(c)(3) coalition of diverse interests, dedicated to communicating the ecological, cultural, and economic benefits of a free-flowing Snake River, as well as technical and scientific knowledge about dam breaching.

Native Fish Society
Conservation, protection, preservation of Northwest native fishes.

Wild Fish Conservancy
Dedicated to the recovery and conservation of the region’s wild-fish ecosystems.

Wild Salmon Center
Promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim.

Salmon History
Salmon's story by Jim Lichatowich.

Long live the Kings!
Dedicated to restoring wild salmon and steelhead & supporting sustainable fishing in the Pacific NW.

Puget Sound Partnership
A state agency leading the cleanup of Puget Sound, based on science, actions that have the biggest impact, and holding people and organizations accountable for results.

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Assists member tribes in their role as natural resources co-managers.

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
A community based non-profit dedicated to restoring wild salmon runs in Whatcom County.

Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG)
Engages communities in habitat restoration and watershed stewardship in order to enhance salmon populations.

Raincoast Conservation Society
A team of conservationists and scientists empowered by our research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia.

Save Our Wild Salmon
A diverse, nationwide coalition working together to restore wild salmon and steelhead to the Columbia and Snake Rivers Basin.

Heritage Courses Slides Collection - Northwest Natural History Courses for Teachers
Courses designed to offer teachers opportunities to explore strategies that can enhance their students' learning by tapping in to the power of students' natural intelligence. The courses also offer lots of opportunities to develop natural history interpretation skills (as well as cycling, kayaking and hiking skills) as a means to enhance outdoor learning experiences for students.

Sound Action - Puget Sound Watchdog Group
Works to protect vital Puget Sound Ecosystems.

Friends of the San Juans
Protects and promotes the health and future of the San Juan Islands.

Whidbey Watershed Stewards
A community group working to restore, preserve, and protect watersheds and water quality on Whidbey Island in Washington State.

Greenbelt Consulting
Environmental assessment and consulting service designed to help property owners make informed decisions concerning their land, especially preserving shoreline habitat during development.

National Park Service
Restoration of anadromous fish to re-establish the populations of native stocks that thrived in the Elwha River before the dams were constructed.

Education/Advocacy Links

Northwest Environmental Advocates Established in 1969, NWEA works through advocacy and education to use federal environmen tal laws, such as the Clean Water ACt, to protect and restore water quality and habitat in the Northwest and nationwide.

Earthjustice
A non-profit public interest law organization dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.

25 Best Ways to Conserve Water
Every drop counts.

Center for Biological Diversity
National U.S. group using science, law and creative media to protect the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.

American Cetacean Society
The American Cetacean Society (ACS) is the oldest whale conservation group in the world. Founded in 1967, it is a non-profit, volunteer membership organization with regional U.S. chapters and members in 41 countries.

American Cetacean Society - Puget Sound
The Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society is a group of people interested in whales and the environment they live in.

Killer Whale Tales
An environmental education program that uses storytelling and field based science to inspire students to take an active role in the conservation of Southern Resident Killer Whales and their habitat.

Whale Sightings

Orca Network Sightings Network
Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network and Education Project encourages observation and increases awareness and knowledge about the Southern Resident Community of orcas (J, K and L pods), while fostering a stewardship ethic and motivating a diverse audience to take action to protect and restore Puget Sound. Join the Orca Network Sighting Network and receive regular sightings updates here.

Whales and Dolphins BC
Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs) is a non-profit marine conservation society, based in Powell River, BC. Since 2010, we’ve been working to highlight the whales, dolphins and porpoise of the BC coast, and to raise public awareness, respect and enthusiasm for their protection and welfare.

BC Cetacean Sightings Network
Also offers stewardship program, identification guides, and the natural history of killer whales and humpbacks.

Global Warming

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.

CO2Now.org
Global warming is mainly the result of CO2 levels rising in the Earth’s atmosphere. Both atmospheric CO2 and climate change are accelerating. Climate scientists say we have years, not decades, to stabilize CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

Captivity Links

Blackfish the movie
A film that is changing public perceptions about holding orcas captive as entertainment; a fundamental examination and condemnation of our relationship to the natural world. The reality of exploitation for profit as revealed by current science and empathy.

Killer Controversy: Why Orcas Should No Longer be Kept in Captivity
The dangers of keeping orcas in captivity to both the animals and to the trainers. The report reviews concerns, such as high mortality rates of captive orcas, increased risk of infection, high mortality rates of infants, stress and increased aggression toward one another and humans.

Lolita - Slave to Entertainment
All about, and how to get a copy of, the dramatic new Lolita documentary that spells out just how morally corrupt it is to keep Lolita confined in concrete in Miami when she could be safely and happily swimming back in her home waters.

Cetacean Society International
A non-profit conservation, education, and research organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and the marine environment on a global basis.

Whale Sanctuary Project
Hopes to build a permanent seapen sanctuary to house captive orcas and belugas.

News Links

Daily Sightline
A wonderful news service. Each morning links are provided for important news stories nationwide about Northwest watershed ecosystems.

Environmental News Service
Exactly what its name implies - a comprehensive overview of current news and information on decisions and forces at work affecting our natural world.

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Orcas of the Salish Sea

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Whale Tales - L112 Victoria/Sooke