ORRCA volunteers celebrated an exciting 26th annual whale Census in 2025, writes Phebe Fidge.
It’s another day in paradise, and these volunteers won’t waste a minute! As the sun rises, Jody, Lyndell and Khynan from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) are already setting up their gazebo on Hill 60. Donning their warm jackets and distinctive yellow hats, these volunteers are ready to tell people all about ORRCA and collect data for their 26th annual whale census!
“We’re all about the protection and conservation of marine mammals – whales, seals, dugongs and dolphins, you name it!” says Jody Langlois, secretary of ORRCA.
“ORRCA undertakes the Whale Census every year. We arrived here this morning at 7.00 and we’ll be here until the sun sets.
"We’re counting all of the whales sighted that are migrating north towards the warmer waters. This data helps with our understanding of whale population health, the types of migrating species along our coastline and also some specific data around the best vantage points for land-based whale spotting and identification, which supports ORRCA’s disentanglement efforts."
The ORRCA whale census is a citizen science initiative that attracts hundreds of volunteers to different locations along Australia’s east coast every year. Volunteers tally the number of passing humpback whales, also recording any other whale species – such as critically endangered Southern Right whales or orcas (also known as killer whales) – that pass their location. This year, more than 608 participants registered across 159 locations.
“As most people know, decades ago, these whales were almost extinct and now the numbers are just phenomenal! I think we’re expecting about 40,000 to come past the east coast alone,” Jody says.
“Seeing the number of humpbacks go from the 100s into the tens of thousands over the years shows what we are doing is right for them. The Southern Rights aren’t really showing that kind of effect, so it’s good to know that what’s working for some species might not be working for other species.”
Data from the ORRCA Census and from an ongoing East Coast Migration Survey, which has volunteers monitoring whale traffic up and down the east coast every day, will feed into research being conducted by ORRCA’s research subcommittee. The findings will be shared with the public, updated and built on over time.
The 2025 Census was a huge success, with 121 whales spotted from Port Kembla alone. Total sightings numbered over 5,000, breaking the 2023 record and giving hope for the conservation of these amazing animals.
It’s victories like these that inspire Jody to give up her weekends and continue her campaign to protect the whales.
“I want to make sure they’re still around for my kids and my grandkids, and I want people to love them as much as I do. I keep coming back to make sure they’re protected, and ORRCA is an amazing organisation to be a part of. The people involved are friendly and welcoming and you learn so much!”
What you can do
ORRCA volunteers can take on a range of responsibilities. These may include manning the ORRCA hotline, attending strandings to assist injured animals, writing articles or creating social media content, participating in citizen science initiatives, and administrative support. If you are interested in volunteering your time, become a member at the ORRCA website.
If you want to support ORRCA to keep doing what they do, you can donate here.
If you see an injured whale, dolphin or seal, please contact ORRCA’s 24/7 Rescue hotline on 02 9415 3333.
