ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance

09/19/2026

09/05/2026

The ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance is hosting a table at this year's Good Point Surf Festival in Jordan River, British Columbia.

Good Point Surf Festival

ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program

08/26/2026

Shark week with the NOAA's Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries

We missed , but the sharks 🦈 did not miss it! Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary supports a healthy ocean 🌊 ecosystem that supports life from the microscopic 🔬 to the macroscopic 🐋 including a healthy population of white sharks that are essential to this ecosystem. Researchers have been studying the sharks here for decades 🗓️ and have learned a lot about age, timing, size, change over time and favorite spots. Check out the video to see our sharks!

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk51-white-shark-research.html

photo credit: Pete Winch

08/26/2026

200 lbs bluefin tuna are showing up off California. Typically bluefin tuna occurring close to shore are smaller.

Fish that once required a trip to San Diego to find are now getting hauled over the rail within sight of the Northern California coast.

Read more 👇

08/24/2026

August 2026 - Willapa Submarine Canyon

Our ORA - Oceanic Research Alliance team specializes in the study of killer whales in Pacific open ocean ecosystems.

During an August pelagic seabird expedition out of Westport Washington, R. Merrill encountered a lone adult male killer whale over the deep pelagic waters of the Willapa Submarine Canyon. Our research team was able to identify this whale as OCT117 (aka. Master Chief) - an infrequently encountered outer coast transient killer whale that frequents the outer continental slope.
Our research team last encountered OCT117 on October 22, 2025 in Juan de Fuca Strait.

A huge thank you to R. Merrill for sharing photographs with our research team.

If you have photographs of killer whales and would like to share them with our research team, please email [email protected]


California Current Killer Whale Study
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries West Coast
Westport Seabirds

05/30/2026

Know your mackerel with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Know your mackerel. Here are three easy ways to identify a jack mackerel versus a Pacific mackerel.

Pacific Mackerel (Scomber japonicus):
• Wavy lines on blue-green background
• Dorsal fins are widely separated
• Finlets present

Jack Mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus):
• Dark spot on gill cover
• Scutes along arched lateral line
• No finlets

The torpedo shape and finlets of the Pacific mackerel make it look like a tiny tuna. This is because Pacific mackerel are in the same family as tunas (Scombrid family). The jack mackerel is in a completely different family with jacks (Carangidae). Jacks and yellowtail are in the same family as the jack mackerel. If you think about it, knowing your mackerel is really just a matter of recognizing the difference between a jack and a tuna.

Illustration by CDFW Environmental Scientist Claudia Makeyev.

05/05/2026

California Ocean Day – April 28!

On April 28th, Governor Gavin Newsom has officially proclaimed California Ocean Day—a recognition of the vital role our ocean plays in sustaining biodiversity, supporting coastal communities, and driving scientific discovery.

From the dynamic waters of the California Current to the rich ecosystems along our coast, this is a moment to reflect on why long-term research, conservation, and responsible stewardship matter.

At the Oceanic Research Alliance, our work is grounded in understanding these systems—documenting marine life, studying predator ecology, and contributing to the science needed to protect them.

The ocean connects us all—across borders, disciplines, and communities.

Let’s keep the focus where it belongs: on the health of our oceans and the future they support.


Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
California Current Killer Whale Study
NOAA Fisheries Service
NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA's Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries

05/03/2026

We’ve got some exciting news to share!

The Oceanic Research Alliance is now officially registered as a Canadian non-profit society.

Over the past few years, our work has grown across the west coast, and establishing a Canadian non-profit has been an important step in supporting long-term, locally focused research and conservation—especially here in the northern sector of the California Current off southern British Columbia.

With this, ORA now holds non-profit status in both the United States and Canada. This allows us to better support projects on both sides of the border while strengthening our presence here at home off the central coast of California.

For us, this isn’t just paperwork—it’s about building something lasting. It means more opportunities for local collaboration, community-based research, and long-term monitoring of the ecosystems we care about.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported this work along the way.

https://www.oceanicresearchalliance.org/


California Current Killer Whale Study
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)
NOAA Fisheries Service

04/30/2026

Can you tell the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise?
Check out this amazing info graphic by our friends at NOAA Fisheries Service .

Do you know the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise?

They’re both highly intelligent; they use echolocation to find food, communicate, and navigate; they come to the surface to breathe. They even look pretty similar. But they are not the same.

Here’s how you can tell them apart:
Dolphins have longer, leaner bodies and hooked or curved dorsal fins. Their faces have elongated beaks, and their teeth are pointed and cone shaped. They’re talkative, communicating with clicks, squeaks, buzzes, and whistles. They’re highly social and curious—they’ll swim right up to your boat!

Porpoises have smaller, more stout bodies and triangular dorsal fins. They have short faces with rounded beaks and their teeth are flat and spade shaped. They communicate using high-pitched clicks. They can be very shy, less social, and avoid boats.

Learn more about the similarities (and differences) between the species and how you can help protect them: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/it-dolphin-or-porpoise

04/17/2026

New 2026 Protection Measures for Southern Resident Killer Whales

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has announced updated management measures aimed at protecting Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) in British Columbia waters.

One of the most significant updates: All vessels must now stay at least 1,000 metres away from Southern Resident killer whales throughout much of southern BC coastal waters — including areas between Campbell River and north of Ucluelet.

These measures are designed to reduce:
• Acoustic disturbance from vessel noise
• Physical disruption to foraging and social behaviour
• Cumulative stress on this endangered population

For those of us working on the water, this is a major change and reinforces the importance of responsible vessel operation around whales.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize:
Different killer whale populations (e.g., transient/Bigg’s vs. resident) have different ecologies and conservation needs
Accurate identification in the field is critical for compliance
Continued education and outreach will be key to making these measures effective

From a research perspective, these regulations highlight just how important it is to better understand killer whale distribution, habitat use, and population structure across the coast.

We encourage all mariners, researchers, and wildlife viewers to familiarize themselves with the updated rules and help contribute to the protection of these iconic animals.
If you’re unsure which whales you are encountering — slow down, keep your distance, and err on the side of caution.


California Current Killer Whale Study
ORA -Juan de Fuca Living Waters Program
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Marine Mammal Research Unit UBC (MMRU)