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Marine Conservation & Research
Protecting the Ningaloo Coast Through Responsible Tourism & Research
At Ocean Eco Adventures, we believe that responsible marine tourism is about more than simply experiencing the Ningaloo Coast — it is about understanding, respecting and helping protect the incredible marine environment we are privileged to share.
Every day, our vessels operate in some of the most important marine habitats along Western Australia's Ningaloo Coast. This gives our crew a unique opportunity to observe marine wildlife, collect information and contribute to ongoing research and conservation programs.
We work alongside researchers, scientists and citizen science organisations to share wildlife observations, photographic identification records and other information gathered during our tours. Our crew are trained to conduct wildlife encounters responsibly, minimising disturbance while making the most of opportunities to contribute meaningful data.
From identifying individual whale sharks and manta rays to documenting humpback whales, orcas, sharks and rays, our guests' experiences can become part of something much bigger — helping researchers better understand the animals and ecosystems of the Ningaloo Coast.
Whale Shark Photo Identification
Exmouth, Western Australia
Helping Scientists Track Individual Whale Sharks
Whale sharks are individually identifiable by the unique pattern of spots behind their gills. Like a human fingerprint, each whale shark has a distinctive pattern that remains consistent throughout its lifetime.
Photo identification is an important tool for researchers because it allows individual whale sharks to be recognised when they are encountered again. Over time, these records can help build a much clearer picture of whale shark populations, movements and site use along the Ningaloo Coast.
Every Whale Shark Tour Can Contribute
Our photographers photograph the whale sharks we encounter throughout our tours, including photographs suitable for photo identification wherever conditions and animal behaviour allow.
We submit whale shark identification photographs and sighting information to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), contributing to the ongoing database of whale shark encounters along the Ningaloo Coast.
Our guests can also become directly involved in whale shark research. The identification photograph included with your tour photographs can be uploaded to Ecocean's global whale shark photo-identification database, allowing you to follow the whale shark you encountered and potentially see where that individual has been photographed by other people.
Ecocean has been conducting whale shark photo-identification research on the Ningaloo Reef since the mid-1990s, creating one of the world's longest-running photographic databases for whale sharks.
You Don't Have to Be a Photographer
We have our guests covered.
Our onboard photographers capture photographs throughout your Whale Shark Discovery experience, including the important identification images. Your whale shark ID photograph is included with your tour photographs, giving you the opportunity to contribute to research while simply enjoying the experience.
Your whale shark encounter doesn't have to end when you leave the water — your photographs can continue contributing to research long after your tour.
Learn more about whale shark photo identification with Ecocean
Ningaloo Manta Project
Coral Bay, Western Australia
Every Manta Sighting Counts
We also contribute photographic identification records to the Ningaloo Manta Project, a long-term citizen science program documenting manta rays along Australia's west coast.
Like whale sharks, individual manta rays can be identified from their unique natural markings. The pattern of spots and markings on the underside of a manta ray remains unchanged throughout its lifetime, effectively acting as an individual fingerprint.
Our crew and photographers submit suitable manta ray identification photographs from our tours to the Ningaloo Manta Project, adding our sightings to their long-term photographic database.
The project has been collecting photographic records since 2004, with thousands of submissions from photographers and contributors across Australia's west coast. These long-term records help researchers investigate important aspects of manta ray ecology, including individual movements, population size, visitation patterns, reproduction and maturity.
Turning Wildlife Encounters Into Research
For us, this is one of the simplest ways tourism can contribute to conservation.
We are already spending time on the water observing manta rays in their natural environment. By photographing identifiable individuals and sharing those images with researchers, an unforgettable wildlife encounter can become part of a much larger scientific dataset.
Every manta sighting has the potential to add another piece to the puzzle.
Learn more about the Ningaloo Manta Project
CETREC - Cetacean and Fisheries Research
West Australian Coastline
Supporting Whale & Orca Research Since 2014
Our involvement in marine research extends beyond photo identification.
Since 2014, Ocean Eco Adventures owners and team have worked alongside CETREC WA, contributing observations and photographic records of cetaceans encountered along the Ningaloo Coast.
Our skippers and crew regularly encounter humpback whales, orcas and other marine wildlife while operating in Ningaloo waters. When appropriate, these encounters provide an opportunity to contribute photographs, sighting information and behavioural observations to ongoing research.
Orca & Humpback Whale Observations
Our crew have been briefed on research requirements and observation protocols, including the importance of collecting suitable photographs for individual photo identification and recording useful information about animal behaviour and encounters.
Over the years, our team has provided CETREC with detailed reports and imagery of orca and humpback whale encounters. The quality of these observations and photographs has been valuable enough for our crew to be recognised as contributors to CETREC's research.
Just as importantly, our approach is centred around not interfering with natural wildlife behaviour.
When other vessels are present, our skippers and crew may choose to remain at a respectful distance or wait until other vessels have moved away rather than add pressure to an interaction. We believe that contributing to research should never come at the expense of the animals we are there to observe.
Providing a Platform for Marine Research
Our vessels have also been used directly for scientific research.
In 2019, Latitude 22 was engaged by CETREC to conduct fisheries research off the Ningaloo Coast investigating the conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna.
This experience demonstrated another way in which a marine tourism operation can contribute to science — by providing an experienced crew, capable vessel and extensive local knowledge to support researchers working on the water.
We are proud to continue working alongside CETREC and to contribute to the understanding and protection of Ningaloo's marine wildlife.
Learn more about CETREC WA
From a research perspective and someone that has been coming to Ningaloo for 20+ years it is nice
to work with a company like Latitude Charters who have the vision and ability to offer a product the
region can be proud of and are committed to ongoing research, protection of the Ningaloo reef and
all its inhabitants. I look forward to working with them again in the future.
John Totterdell
Lead Researcher, CETREC WA
Fin Focus - Citizen Science Project
Exmouth, Western Australia
Citizen Science on the Ningaloo Reef
We are proud to support Fin Focus Research, a citizen science project using the Ningaloo whale shark tourism industry as a platform for collecting information about sharks and rays.
The project was established in 2016 after recognising the unique opportunity created by the number of marine tourism vessels operating throughout the Ningaloo region. While whale shark tours are focused on creating unforgettable experiences for guests, our vessels also regularly encounter a wide range of other sharks and rays — many of which may otherwise go undocumented.
Our crew contribute observations of sharks and rays encountered during our tours, recording species, locations and other relevant information and submitting photographs where possible.
This long-term approach helps researchers build a better understanding of shark and ray biodiversity and distribution throughout the region. It can also help document rare species and unusual behaviours or interactions.
Your Tour Can Help With Research
Marine tourism provides researchers with something that is difficult to replicate through occasional research expeditions: people on the water, observing the marine environment day after day and season after season.
Our crew are already out there. By recording what they see and sharing those observations with researchers, every tour provides another opportunity to contribute to our understanding of the Ningaloo marine ecosystem.
To learn more, follow Fin Focus Research on social media
Research Through Tourism
Turning Time on the Water Into Something More
We are incredibly fortunate to spend our working days on the Ningaloo Coast, surrounded by some of Australia's most extraordinary marine wildlife.
We believe that privilege comes with responsibility.
Our involvement in conservation and research programs is not separate from what we do — it is part of how we operate.
Through whale shark and manta ray photo identification, cetacean research with CETREC WA, shark and ray monitoring through Fin Focus and other research initiatives, we can use our time on the water to contribute to a greater understanding of the marine environment.
Our guests play an important part too.
By joining an Ocean Eco Adventures tour, you are supporting a marine tourism business that actively participates in conservation and research. The photographs taken during your experience, the animals you encounter and the observations made by our crew can all contribute to a better understanding of the Ningaloo Coast.
Because protecting the Ningaloo starts with understanding it.
