This count provides an excellent snapshot of ocean health as well as the status of the dolphin population living off of our shoreline.  

Participating in the dolphin count is a lot of fun (who doesn’t love a day at the beach!) and requires only a few basic skills and equipment for investigating the population status. 

Dolphins live in what is considered a “fission-fusion” society, which means the animals come together and separate for various reasons. Primary pod makeup is of females and their calves. Males will live separated from the females in what is known as bachelor groups. Numbers of animals in each pod varies from group to group therefore it can be challenging to capture an accurate snapshot. 

That’s where you come in!

To participate in the count, please register at aqua.org/dolphincount. We recommend bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, beach chairs and anything additional you may need to spend a few hours on the beach! If you have a pair of binoculars please feel free to bring those as well to provide you an up close look at the dolphins as they swim by.

We look forward to seeing you out on the shore!