Guardians of the Giants: How Citizen Science Turns Witnesses into Protectors The Moment That Changes Everything

Written by Anne Louise Burdett

When a whale breaches, rising through the surface of the water, an arching body striking the horizon line, exhaling its misty breath into the atmosphere, something shifts in us. Time slows, awe takes over. We feel connected to these animals, drawn not only by their immensity, but by their acute intelligence and their memory. Their presence is an essential part of the shared story of all life on Earth.  

Whales are planetary architects- keystones species that keep whole ecosystems intact. They are ancient beings now facing modern threats. Among the most significant of these are ship strikes, a preventable danger at the center of Whale Guardians’ work. Protecting whales can be sentimental, but it is also scientific and strategic for a climate resilient world. It is essential that we understand the important roles they play, now more than ever. 

Many assume that their protection relies solely on governments, PhDs, policy makers and biologists only. Increasingly, however, the future and health of the global whale populations lies in a far more democratic and collective action: citizen science.  

Why Whales Matter (Ecologically, Culturally, Climatically)

Great whales are iconic members of our global community. They act as ecological engineers, playing a significant role in the health of the world’s oceans. Acting as nutrient cyclers, they add their rich fecal plumes to the seasonal upwelling of nutrients from the deep sea. This stimulates oceanic primary production by supporting phytoplankton growth, leading to greater carbon sequestration. They are great in their symbolism, but even more mighty in providing ecological infrastructure for the very foundation of our planet. Without them, our ocean systems would have a cascade towards further ecological collapse.

Whales are socially complex, sentient beings that cultivate intergenerational memory and nuanced whale societies. Human cultural memory is tied to whales and their behavioral patterns, migrations, and impacts on nearshore and deep ocean habitats. And yet, we are still seeing great losses, even with increased protections. 

The Data Gap: What We Don’t Know Is Costing Whales Their Lives

There are so many of us who care about and work with whales. There are tireless and dedicated researchers, scientists, fishers, mariners, educators and community members working to protect these important species. However, the gaps in the data create vast limitations in what we can do to prevent further harm to these animals. Limits in funding, access to the vast expanse of ocean spaces, seasonality of behaviors and movements of different species, delayed reporting and incomplete records lead to an inability to appropriately respond to the urgency of the threats facing our marine megafauna, and in particular, great whales. 

Most deaths from ship strikes go undetected due to the lack of indication to the vessel that the strike has occurred, as well as whales' negative buoyancy, so policymakers are uninformed of the issue at the industry or governmental level. Conservation decisions are only as strong as the data supporting them and the political and societal will to enact change. Shipping companies need direct, up-to- date information, with clear specific guidance in the forms of voluntary, seasonal alternative routes to be followed at their discretion with safety in mind first: the Whale Guardians Solution. 

What Citizen Science Really Means (And What It Is Not)

Citizen science is when the people get involved. When we decide that caring for earth and the species that inhabit this planet with us is not a spectator sport, but a participatory choice. With the right tools, anyone can get involved in the protection of whales, and the transformation of standards and policies that are falling short. 

This is not casual observation, but rigorous data collection using accessible tools and standardized protocols. This is distributed intelligence that can exponentially expand the spatial coverage of capturing real-time data in coastal and remote locations. Citizen science puts the work of tracking and understanding whale behaviors and target zones into the hands of the people that know their areas the best, that rely on and care about the ocean that sustains them, and brings people into an endeavor that is enormous, but manageable with widespread effort and collaboration. 

Through citizen science we can detect migration patterns and important seasonal habitats within areas used in human commercial activity. Instead of only relying on biologists who must constantly seek funding to observe small areas, usually for limited amounts of time, we will be thousands of trained eyes and ears, working together.

The Future is Measured Together

Many are feeling some form of grief around our changing climate, things that feel out of our control, and the many threats and losses the wilderness of our world are facing. Citizen science turns awe into agency, powerlessness into action, and defies the notion that only experts can create the world we want to live in. We all have important roles to play to create measurable impacts towards a more just and climate resilient future. Through decentralizing expertise, citizen science builds local stewardship including youth, and elevates community knowledge. 

The ocean is the largest living ecosystem on the planet, too vast for any single institution to protect. Climate change is altering migration, baselines are shifting, and historical models are outdated, while shipping is increasing as well as offshore development, noise pollution and fisheries pressure. Consistent, up-to-date monitoring is essential. The future of whales depends on all of us stepping up and becoming witnesses, and then, scientists.

Through this collective effort, we can create a body of current data utilized by Whale Guardians to create informed alternative routes for vessels, identification of seasonal hot spots, and policy advocacy.  Shifting from observer, to contributor, to guardian, citizen science can create belonging and rigor in our conservation movement. So let’s get to work.