🐋 Join us at Avalon Brewery on June 27th for Living Ocean’s first-ever Trivia Night, supporting our Whales & Climate Research Program, and dive into an evening of knowledge and community. Get your tickets now >
Whales & Climate
Our programsUnderstanding the intricate relationship between whales and climate change is crucial for safeguarding both the ocean's health and our planet's future.
Living Ocean's Whale and Climate Research explores humpback whales' vital role as ocean health indicators and their contribution to mitigating global warming.
Since 2004, our initiative, formerly under the Whale and Seal Foundation and now integrated into Living Ocean, conducts annual citizen science studies along humpback whale migration routes in Sydney and the New South Wales Central Coast. Unlike traditional methods, our comprehensive approach examines not only individual whales but also tracks, behaviors, and environmental factors, setting a new standard in research methodology.
Operated under government scientific and ethics licenses, this ongoing study maintains global significance in both scope and approach.
Our goal is to uncover the impacts of human activities and ocean warming on humpback whales while identifying effective conservation strategies within evolving local environments.
“In studying the intersection of whales and climate, we're not just exploring; we're advocating for their survival in a rapidly changing environment.”
— Bill Fulton, Living Ocean Chief Scientist
2024 Research Deliverables
Compiling a comprehensive dataset
In 2024, Living Ocean's involvement in the Whales and Climate partnership reached a new level with the deployment of underwater whale-recording devices off Sydney's coast. Through artificial intelligence-based analysis, we aim to unlock fresh insights into the impact of global warming on ocean creatures.
Developing Sustainable Practices
Living Ocean assists in developing industry-leading best management practices tailored for the whale watching sector. These practices prioritise environmental conservation and enhance visitor experiences, ensuring sustainable approaches that resonate with both nature and humanity.
Support our Whale & Climate Research
Your donation fuels Living Ocean’s critical research efforts focused on understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on whale populations.
Achievements
In 2019, the Whales & Climate Consortium welcomed Living Ocean as a full member, recognising the value of our dataset alongside seven global universities and the Smithsonian. Our data, focused on climate change's impact on southern hemisphere humpback whales, is now utilised for crucial research. University supervisors utilise our dataset for Masters and PhD theses.
Living Ocean's software, originally developed for whale research, now supports diverse wild animal species. The Behayve app is used by over 2,900 ethology scientists worldwide, studying species like the Ganges River dolphin, polar bear, wolf, blue whale, and bees. It's also used in human studies globally.
Research partners
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Whales & Climate Program
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Griffith University
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Macquarie University
Students & Citizen Science
Living Ocean also takes students on research voyages to experience whale tracking and behaviour and record it photographically for social media and research.
“Whether it is diving down beneath the surface to discover a new untouched world, watching whales swim past the coastline, or to be on or around the ocean it makes you feel alive. To be able to share this experience with others through photos is a gift in itself.” - Jack Barripp, Barrenjoey High School
Upcoming events
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Welcome to Ocean Country
1 June | 8:15-10:00AM
Living Ocean is proud to facilitate a Welcome to Ocean Country for the Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whale migration.
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Migration Ale Launch
1 June | From 5pm
Join us at Avalon Brewery for the Migration Ale launch! Enjoy great company, delicious drinks, and "Big Kiwi Si" on the decks.
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Living Ocean Trivia Night
15 June | From 5:45pm
Join us at Avalon Brewery for Trivia Night. Test your knowledge, win prizes, and support marine conservation with Living Ocean!