Educate
Education is a cornerstone of our mission, extending beyond our immediate response team to the wider community. We believe that informed citizens and stakeholders play a crucial role in preventing whale entanglements and supporting rescue efforts. Through outreach initiatives, we aim to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of whale entanglements and promote practices that minimize such risks. By sharing our knowledge and experience, we empower others to contribute to the protection of marine life and support sustainable practices in commercial fishing and other maritime activities.
Public Outreach
At EWROC, public outreach is a vital part of our mission to protect marine life. Through community events, educational programs, and partnerships, we aim to raise awareness about entangled whale responses and the importance of marine conservation. Our team provides expert training to strengthen the network of responders and engages the public in meaningful ways to inspire action in preserving ocean ecosystems.
Whether through hands-on experiences, informative talks, or digital resources, EWROC is committed to empowering individuals and communities to join us in protecting our oceans. Interested in hosting an event please contact us.
Sea Drinks, Hennessy's Dana Point June 2025
Sea Drinks, Hennessy's Dana Point June 2025
Sea Drinks, Hennessy's Dana Point June 2025
Dana Point Festival of Whales, 2025
Dana Point Festival of Whales, 2025
Dana Point Festival of Whales, 2025
Dana Point Festival of Whales, 2025
40th annual Maritime Festival, Dana Point, 2024.
40th annual Maritime Festival, Dana Point, 2024.
40th annual Maritime Festival, Dana Point, 2024.
40th annual Maritime Festival, Dana Point, 2024.
Presentation at Aventura sailing club in Dana Point on 11/21/24.
Presentation at Aventura sailing club in Dana Point on 11/21/24.
Presentation at Aventura sailing club in Dana Point on 11/21/24.
Dana Point Festival of Whales, 2025
Research
We underscore the vital importance of ongoing research and forward-thinking strategies in addressing marine life entanglements. By constantly updating our understanding and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, we strive to improve our network's effectiveness in preventing and mitigating these incidents. Our commitment to innovation ensures that we stay ahead of emerging threats, safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations.
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Read the report.
NOAA FISHERIES: In 2024, confirmed entanglement reports in NOAA’s West Coast Region were the highest since 2018. We confirmed 36 entangled whales off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, or off the coast of other countries but entangled in U.S. West Coast commercial fishing gear. Similar to recent years, humpback whales continued to be the most common species entangled, with 31 separate entanglements confirmed in 2024. Four gray whales and one fin whale also were confirmed entangled. -
NOAA FISHERIES: In 2023, we confirmed 27 entangled large whales off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, or off the coast of other countries and states but entangled in U.S. West Coast commercial fishing gear. This remains above the numbers of reported entanglements prior to 2014, but continues a pattern of fewer reported entanglements compared to the high point of more than 50 in 2016. Similar to recent years, humpback whales continue to be the most common species entangled, with 16 separate entanglements confirmed in 2023. Nine gray whales and two transient killer whales also were confirmed entangled.
Learn more
The American Cetacean Society is the first non-profit conservation group anywhere devoted to cetaceans - whales, dolphins and porpoises. ACS-OC provides a variety of resources that include expert speakers, naturalist training, and educational materials..
The Whale Tale
Quarterly EWROC newsletter
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Welcome to the second edition of the Entangled Whale Response of Orange County (EWROC) newsletter, THE WHALE TALE. A lot has happened in the past few months. We will start with the latest news first. On April 30, 2025, we marked the first anniversary of EWROC’s incorporation as the only all-volunteer whale disentanglement response team in the southern California region. We have accomplished some incredible things since our first meeting in February 2024, where we discussed strengthening Orange County's whale disentanglement efforts.
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This edition will give you an idea of who we are and why we came together to help strengthen Orange County’s entangled whale response capabilities. We will briefly discuss our 2024 responses, emphasize the importance of training, and highlight our public education efforts. In a short amount of time, we have been able to build our all-volunteer, non-profit organization into a professional and reliable NOAA response asset. We look forward to sharing our journey with you in future editions and hope you will tell your family and friends the story of EWROC.
