Sixty humpback whales: a day that could shape a sanctuary

There are days on the water that recalibrate what we think is possible. Days that stretch our sense of scale and remind us how alive the ocean, even in the face of the pressures it faces. This was one of those days. In Ísafjarðardjúp, in the remote Westfjords of Iceland, Whale Wise took to the water with Sjóferðir and together witnessed and collected sixty humpback whales conservation data in a single day.

It is believed to be the largest humpback whales conservation survey of its kind ever documented in this region. This is a number that holds weight not because it is impressive, but because of what it makes visible.

It is conservation data like this that is vital to establish the story of the fjord and humpback whales. To support and shape the future protection of the fragile ecosystem of this fjord.

When the fjord filled with giants

The day unfolded with a quiet intensity. Setting off from the harbour at first light, we quickly saw many, many humpback whales blow patterns along the distant horizon. All lit but the golden sunlight lifting over the distant mountains. We started to plan how to methodically move from one end of the fjord system to another to carry out our conservation work and data collection survey.

Eyes constantly scanning, cameras, binoculars and conservation data sheets all working together. Each whale surfacing added another point of reference, waiting to capture the all important conservation images of the tail fluke as the humpback whales went for a dive. Another confirmation of another individual whale to add to the total of the day. Another piece of a much larger picture.

Humpback whales moved through the fjord, feeding, travelling, surfacing and making sounds that bellow as they breathe. Their presence was not random. Fjords like Ísafjarðardjúp offer rich feeding grounds. Shaped by currents and nutrient cycling, as well as seasonal productivity. Therefore, these waters matter for humpback whales conservation.

As the hours passed, the count kept rising. Ten. Twenty. Thirty. By the end of the day, sixty individual humpback whales were documented. The team was in disbelief that we’d witnessed so many individual humpback whales, as part of the conservation and data collection work.

Why this data matters

Survey data like this forms the backbone of marine mammal conservation. In doing so, it allows researchers to identify critical habitats, feeding areas and seasonal patterns. Providing evidence to be taken into policy spaces, planning discussions and conservation frameworks.

The data gathered during this survey has already been analysed by the team at Whale Wise. As a result, discovering many of the whales seen during this survey were familiar individuals from previous years covering international distances, seen across multiple months. And heartbreakingly, one whale documented showed recent entanglement scars, that occurred in a gap of 7 days between two images that I captured. This long-term return pattern reinforces the significance of Ísafjarðardjúp as a recurring habitat for these whales. Read their in-depth analysis, which shares a deeper picture behind each of the points in this summary – click here for the report.

This day is one that underscores how vital long term conservation works is and how over time it gathers deeper impact. Observation becomes evidence. Evidence becomes advocacy. Advocacy creates the conditions for long term protection.

Science held alongside awe

It is impossible to be present on a day like this and not feel awe. Whales have that effect on us. Their scale, their presence, the way they surface briefly into our world before returning to depths we cannot follow.

But awe alone does not protect ecosystems. What makes days like this powerful is the way feeling and fact are held together. The emotional impact of witnessing so many whales alongside the rigour of documenting them properly.

This balance is where my own work sits. Translating moments of encounter into visual and narrative forms that support science, rather than distract from it. Ensuring that wonder deepens responsibility, rather than replacing it.

Collective effort on the water

Nothing about this day was solitary. It relied on coordination, trust and shared purpose. Researchers, crew and observers working in rhythm. Each sighting logged, each movement tracked and each of the humpback whales recognised as part of a wider conservation system.

Most of all, made possible by the generosity of Stigur, owner of Sjóferðir. A whale-watching tour operator based in Ísafjörður, Stígur captained one of his vessel Ingólfur, donating both his time and resources for us to gather this data together. A shared passion for humpback whales forever rooted in rich data.

This is one of the quieter truths of conservation. Singular moments rarely drives progress. It emerges through collective effort, repeated attention and the willingness to keep showing up.

A signal worth listening to

Sixty humpback whales in one fjord in one day is not just a statistic. It is a signal. One that asks us to listen carefully to conservation and what these waters are offering and what they need in return.

Protection is not about freezing places in time. It is about creating conditions where life can continue to move, feed, migrate and adapt. Authorities have the power to protect marine areas, as acts of foresight. They say we noticed, and that we paid attention, acting before it was too late.

Days like this remind me why I do this work. Why conservation photography, science and advocacy belong together. Why being present at the wild edges matters.

The fjord spoke clearly that day and the task now, is to take these messages and share them widely.

→ Find out more about my ocean advocacy here.
→ Explore my underwater photography here.
→ View my Iceland photography here.
→ Read Northern bottlenose whales in önundarfjörður: bearing witness at the edge of the known