ORCA Partners with The Fin Whale Eclipse Project as Chris Packham Shares His Support

We are incredibly excited to announce that ORCA has become the Official Whale Conservation Partner of The Fin Whale Eclipse Project.

ORCA is a UK-based charity dedicated to protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises. Its work uses citizen science, education and research to better understand these animals, the waters they travel through and the threats they face.

For the five of us, this partnership brings together everything we hoped The Fin Whale Eclipse Project could become: safe eclipse viewing, youth-led action and meaningful support for ocean conservation.

Look up for the eclipse—and look out for whales

On August 12, 2026, millions of people will look up to experience a total or major partial solar eclipse.

The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, the North Atlantic and northern Spain, closely following the broad North Atlantic region used by migrating fin whales.

Fin whales are the second-largest animals on Earth. They can grow to more than 20 metres long and travel through busy and changing ocean environments where they face threats including ship strikes, entanglement, underwater noise and changes to their habitat.

Together with ORCA, we are asking eclipse viewers to look up safely for this incredible event—and look out for the whales travelling through the waters beneath it.

A special message from Chris Packham

We were also thrilled to receive a video message from British naturalist, broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham in support of our project.

Chris described The Fin Whale Eclipse Project as a combination of a celestial event and cetacean conservation. His support is helping our youth-led project reach more people across the United Kingdom and beyond.

Watch Chris Packham’s message on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DatJjfMuwgm/

Watch and share the video on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1044657484648011

Read ORCA’s announcement

ORCA has published a wonderful article introducing the partnership and explaining how one extraordinary natural event can help create lasting support for whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Read ORCA’s full article:
https://orca.org.uk/news-blog/look-up-look-out

Buy eclipse glasses and support ORCA

Anyone planning to watch the eclipse must use proper certified solar eclipse glasses during every partial phase. Regular sunglasses are not safe for looking directly at the Sun.

When eclipse glasses are purchased through ORCA’s dedicated link, 15% of the gross sale before tax will support ORCA’s work protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Buy certified eclipse glasses and support ORCA:
https://finwhaleeclipse-eu.myshopify.com/ORCA

We are so grateful to Laura, Steve and everyone at ORCA for believing in our project, and to Chris Packham for helping us share its message.

On August 12, remember to look up safely for the eclipse—and look out for whales too.

— Taylor, Ellen, Emilie, Paige and Maggie
The Fin Whale Eclipse Project