Creating ocean partnerships to protect wildlife.
Our projects are designed to connect the community with marine wildlife.
Learn more and help us report on these animals to promote conservation efforts.
Project 1
Raising Ocean Awareness
Often called the “Blue Serengeti”, due to the abundance of marine life living or in transit here, the Southern California Bight encompasses the Pacific Ocean from Point Conception to the US/Mexico border.
Animals that can be found here include Risso’s dolphins, leatherback sea turtles, and the largest of all animals on the planet, the blue whale, to name a few. These animals have been in the ocean for millions of years.
In just the past few centuries, a blink of an eye, humans have had such a devastating impact on the health of our ocean, that many species have drastically declined. Sadly, some have already gone extinct – eradicated from this planet – never to be seen again.
There is so much we are just learning about ocean wildlife and there is still a vast amount of information we do not know. Our goal at Saving Ocean Wildlife is to educate the public with the knowledge we have about these animals and the threats to their survival so that as a community we can take steps to save these species from extinction.
Project 2
Reporting of Animal Sightings
Part of raising awareness is identifying the animals that are in our ocean and what threats exist to them. Our reporting program encourages the public to engage with us by telling us what animals they are seeing. If someone spots a dead dolphin on a beach, we need to know about it so we can notify the appropriate authorities to study the animal, determine cause of death and better understand threats to their safety.
If a boater spots a whale that is entangled, calling the Entanglement Reporting hotline allows rescue teams to be deployed to save the whale. When people observe live animals, it is critical to share that information with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) as they need more information on the numbers and locations of these animals to help them determine trends in populations and movement patterns.
Project 3
Taking it to the Docks!
For ocean enthusiasts looking to get involved based on their own schedules with the ability to distinctly make a difference in California’s marinas and oceans, this volunteer project is perfect for you.
Dockwalkers was formed to provide one-on-one outreach in local harbors to help boaters appropriately dispose of used oil and other waste products and learn best clean boating practices.
This stateide program is led by California’s Coastal Commission and the California Division of Boating and Waterways’ Boating Clean and Green Program and is implemented in partnership with The Bay Foundation.
Saving Ocean Wildlife is a proud Dockwalker partner and as such we inspire and educate boaters and other recreators to be safe and environmentally sound while boating in California. We host local events and distribute free boater kits with educational materials anywhere where boaters are including marinas, boat launch ramps, boat shows and boating events.
Who can be a Dockwalker?
You can! Anyone over the age of 15 can join. It’s easy and you do the same thing we do, distribute boater kits provided by the state program. There’s a simple training you can take to become certified and then you’re off and ready to take it to your local docks!
How do I join one of the Dockwalker Trainings?
Dockwalker trainings take place regularly throughout the year. All trainings are currently virtual via zoom due to COVID 19 and last approximately 2 ½ hours. You can register below by choosing your preferred session and you’ll receive confirmation from the California Coastal Commission with complete zoom details for your specific training.
If you’ve been a Dockwalker in the past, you’ll need to re-certify every three years. Refresher trainings are specifically available for this purpose.
Have more questions? This frequently asked questions document might help.