Whale watching and research
Contribution to science
As one of the few companies in the world combining whale watching and research, our two whale-watching operators, Whalesafari Andenes and Whale2Sea, offer a unique and highly educational experience with the whales off Andøya. Over the years, the companies have collaborated on a number of large- and small-scale research projects to increase knowledge about whales and marine life off Andøya and the surrounding areas.
We strive to contribute to science by providing scientists and students access to our vessels for data collection on trips, access to our ID catalogue, and more. We are also engaged in several collaborations with universities and other institutions involving dedicated research trips. Our main focus is on studying the behavioral ecology of male sperm whales. The ecology of males after they leave the breeding grounds at lower latitudes is poorly understood compared to the social groups of females and their offspring in the breeding grounds.
Long-term photo-ID data form the baseline of our work, as following the occurrence and behavior of known individuals provides valuable insights into the ecology of the sperm whales we observe in the feeding grounds off Vesterålen.
Research on the ecology of male sperm whales
In February 2021 Whale2Sea launched a two-year project, funded by the Regional Research Council Nordland, in collaboration with professor Audun Rikardsen from Tromsø University and one of the pioneers in sperm whale research, Dr Jonathan Gordon from Marine Ecological Research Ltd, UK. The project, which has been expanding with new collaborations, focuses on the following aspects of sperm whale ecology:
Habitat use (including seasonal differences), migrations, and diving behavior with the help of satellite telemetry and photo ID.
Diet of the sperm whales (biopsy samples of skin and blubber, sampling of feces).
Improving methods for acoustic detection of sperm whales to avoid unnecessary trips out to sea.
Acoustic behavior of sperm whales, with a focus on social interactions and the context of slow clicks and codas.
Depredation behavior—sperm whales taking Greenland halibut from longlines and gillnets. The aim is to document this behavior both visually and acoustically and to seek solutions together with fishermen.
Pollutant levels.
Determining the size structure and body condition of male sperm whales in the study area, with potential seasonal differences.
We are proud to be at the forefront of scientific work on male sperm whales and grateful for the opportunity to give our visitors fascinating insights into the life of the sperm whales we see off Andøya.
Research on long-finned Pilot whales and Risso´s dolphins
In recent years, the company has initiated work on long-finned pilot whales and Risso’s dolphins. We also contribute identification images and sighting records to the Norwegian Orca Survey. Pilot whales are studied using photo-identification as well as satellite tracking, camera tagging, and biopsy sampling in collaboration with the University of Tromsø and Akvaplan-Niva.
Risso’s dolphins are not an Arctic species, but they have been sighted off Andøya during the summer months since 2017. Their presence is likely related to warming oceans expanding the range of their prey species north of the Arctic Circle. The research involves photo-identification and sighting records.
- As our PhD student Zoë Morange has shown in her recent paper, there are seasonal trends in when individual male sperm whales visit the foraging grounds off Andøya. The vast majority of males only pass through this area and are rarely resighted, but there are some that are more frequent guests, either during May- September or October - April.
Publications and results of our research
Migration to breeding areas by male sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus from the Northeast Atlantic Arctic
Written by: Marie-Anne Blanchet, Kit M. Kovacs, Tiu Similä, Carla Freitas, Zoë Morange, Ove M. Pedersen, Emma F. Vogel, Marten Bril, Guttorm Christensen & Audun H. Rikardsen. 2025
Seasonal changes in the feeding aggregation structure of male sperm whales in Northern Norway
Written by: Zoë Morange, Tiu Similä, Audun H. Rikardsen, Marie-Anne Blanchet. 2024
Aerial Photo-Identification of Sperm Whales.
Written by: Seán A. O’Callaghan, Fadia Al Abbar, Helena Costa, Rui Prieto, Martin Gammell and Joanne O’Brien. 2024
First description and Photo ID catalogue of the Risso's dolphin "Grampus griseus" (G. Cuvier, 1812) population off Northern Norway.
Bachelor Thesis. Written by: Alexander Eckerle
Photo-identification and seasonal occurrence of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off Vesterålen, northern Norway.
Master Thesis. Written by Elena Catasús Folgueras
Stomach contents of three sperm whales stranded on Andøya, northern Norway.
Written by: Tiu Similä, tore Haug, Lotta Lindblom, Christina Lockyer and Seán A. O'Callaghan. 2022
March - April is always exciting, as we expect to see once again "male gatherings" with pairs, trios and even up to 15 males together in synchronized, tightly knit groups with a lot of vocal communication between individuals, a phenomenon we rarely see other times of the year.
In March 2025 an international team of scientists are in Andenes to continue the work on satellite telemetry (migrations, habitat use and diving behavior), biopsy work (pollutants, diet and genetics), acoustic work and other research on the behavior of the adult male sperm whales.