Charitable Support | Thoroughbred International is proud to support the work
of the well known marine conservation charity,
Organisation Cetacea (ORCA), UK registered Charity
no 1098765. The information available on whales, dolphins, seabirds
and other marine life in offshore regions remains
extremely limited at a time when these animals and their
habitats face a growing list of threats to their survival.
In 1996, ORCA began conducting offshore surveys in
European waters, with a major focus on the Bay of Biscay
and the English Channel. It was soon realised that the
expense of hiring boats to conduct dedicated research in
offshore regions had resulted in a very limited number of
studies, and yet people were regularly travelling through
these waters for other reasons. Today, ORCA's network of
surveyors includes volunteer observers travelling onboard
ferries, cruise ships, cargo vessels and yachts, as well as
dedicated research vessels. These observers have
contributed a staggering 3,500 whale and dolphin
sightings involving over 35,000 animals during more
than 45,000 kilometres of survey effort in European waters. |  | ORCA also provides a focus for enjoying and learning about
these animals. ORCA works on the principle that
encouraging and expanding people's interest in and
enjoyment of whales and dolphins will also raise their
awareness of the problems that they face and strengthen
their resolve to join us in working to protect them.
This is achieved through the online magazine
(downloadable from this page) FlukePrints (produced
by Thoroughbred International, as a volunteer to the
charity)and through events, illustrated talks and an
interactive e-mail discussion group, UK Cetnet. So how
is ORCA working to protect whales, dolphins and other
marine wildlife? ORCA believes that monitoring offshore
areas and raising awareness of their importance is the
essential first step to greater protection. |  | Our seas are being degraded through pollution,
over-fishing, increased disturbance from shipping,
acoustic disturbance and fisheries by-catch. ORCA is
working in partnership with other research and
conservation organisations, providing up to date
information on the distribution and relative abundance of
whales and dolphins and the threats which they face.
ORCA's information is used by a range of researchers and
conservationists to aid their own research and campaigns.
By actively developing its network of members, volunteers,
partners, friends and colleagues, ORCA will continue to
search for and identify areas of high conservation value and
work to ensure that the outstanding diversity of cetaceans
to be found on our doorstep is maintained long into the
future for us to enjoy. Further details can be found at
www.orcaweb.org.uk |  Download FlukePrints
Spring 2006 Issue
Click here |
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