Citizen Science : Apps and Websites to help whale watchers contribute to research & conservation
What is citizen science?
Citizen science is the voluntary involvement of the public in science research. Citizen science (CS; also known as community science, crowd science, crowd-sourced science, civic science, or volunteer monitoring) is scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur (or nonprofessional) scientists. Citizen science is sometimes described as "public participation in scientific research," participatory monitoring, and participatory action research whose outcomes are often advancements in scientific research by improving the scientific communities’ capacity, as well as increasing the public's understanding of science.
Anyone can be a citizen scientist, regardless of where they are from. It does not matter how old you are or what background is. All it takes is some time, curiosity, and a sense of wonder.
Here are some citizen science apps & websites you can visit:
Happy Whale
Happywhale’s mission is to increase global understanding and caring for marine environments through creating high quality conservation science and education. Their aim is to make it easy and rewarding for the public to participate in science. How? By building innovative tools to engage anyone interested in marine mammals and serve the research community with powerful collaborative tools. If you are reading this while thinking about going whale watching, always remember to follow responsible whale watching practices
Website: Happywhale
WhaleReport
Ocean Wise Conservation Association
Help the Sightings Network gather data on the occurrence and distribution of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and sea turtles in B.C. waters. If you see a cetacean or sea turtle in B.C. waters, use the WhaleReport App to report what you see and directly contribute to important conservation-based research.
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/whalereport/id982066469
ANDROID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/detailsid=ca.org.vanaqua.vawhalereport&hl=en_CA&gl=US
Seafari
Seafari allows registered users to report and track marine mammal activity. It also includes species info, pictures and distribution maps for marine mammals specific to the Eastern and Southern African coastlines.
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/seafari/id1228528017
ANDROID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.p9122DH&hl=en&gl=US
See & ID Dolphins and Whales
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Wildlife and nature enthusiast, dolphin tours, eco-tours, whale watching tours, educators and scientists will find the See & ID Dolphins & Whales app useful to identify and learn about dolphins, whales, seals and manatees while also learning how they can protect marine mammals by responsibly watching them in the wild.
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/see-id-dolphins-whales/id699127250
Center for Whale Research
The Center for Whale Research has been the leading voice for the now gravely endangered Southern Resident killer whales (orcas) generating over 4 decades of scientific research and health assessments that have been used to inform agency decision-makers and elected officials about the whales' ecosystem needs to ensure the viability of this playful, social, and beloved population. Come learn about these amazing orcas who live in the Salish sea in the pacific northwest in the US. Take a moment to tag your favorite whale, take a quick quiz to learn about these majestic creatures and play our fun matching game! Please support the center by donating to this important mission and join us on social media.
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/center-for-whale-research/id1219876533
ANDROID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webappclouds.whale&hl=en_CA&gl=US
Whale and Dolphin Tracker
Log sightings and identify species of commonly sighted whales and dolphins from any location around the world. Whale and Dolphin Tracker provides a platform where both professional scientists and members of the public can participate in research and conservation by contributing their marine wildlife sightings. By submitting your sightings you will add to a global database that will help researchers determine patterns of species distribution and how these species interact with their environment.
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/whale-and-dolphin-tracker/id1336754335
ANDROID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pacificwhale.tracker&hl=en_CA&gl=US
Whale Alert
Reducing Ship Strikes
Whale Alert helps reduce the chance of fatal ship strikes by large vessels by displaying active whale management areas, required reporting areas, recommended routes, areas-to-be-avoided and near real-time warnings in shipping lanes along both coasts of the United States and Canada. This information allows vessel operators to avoid collision with whales by slowing down and heightening their visual awareness.
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/whale-alert/id911035973
ANDROID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earthnc.whalealert&hl=en_CA&gl=US