Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are apex predators and play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. The Iberian subpopulation, which inhabits the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz, is classified as Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2019) and faces multiple anthropogenic threats, including reduced prey availability, accidental captures, maritime traffic, and chemical pollution. The Conservation Plan for Killer Whales in the Strait of Gibraltar and Gulf of Cádiz (BOE-A-2017-5474) explicitly highlights the urgent need to increase knowledge of the physiology of this population, alongside its biology, ecology, and threats, in order to design effective conservation measures. However, objective and standardised physiological data for assessing the health and welfare of Iberian killer whales remain scarce, limiting the ability to detect the sublethal effects of human activities and implement management measures based on scientific evidence.
The ORCAWA (Orca Welfare Assessment) Project addresses this knowledge gap through the development and application of a validated biochemical profile to assess killer whale health and welfare, with particular focus on the Iberian subpopulation. The project builds on experience gained through previous initiatives, including the INTERREG MARCET II project, which advanced methodologies for cetacean health monitoring; the GLOBICAN project, which pioneered the study of stress and contaminant biomarkers in short-finned pilot whales; and the HEALTH-CET project, which developed an analytical profile of pathophysiological biomarkers applicable to free-ranging cetaceans and established reference intervals for clinically healthy individuals. Together, these studies provided a solid foundation for the development of the present project.
In this way, ORCAWA will provide the first validated biochemical profile for killer whales, providing objective, minimally invasive indicators to assess their health and welfare. This will enable the early detection of deviations from normal reference ranges and potential sublethal effects of anthropogenic pressures.
The results will directly support the implementation of conservation measures for Iberian killer whales, in accordance with the Spanish Conservation Plan and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Ultimately, ORCAWA will contribute to the long-term conservation of Iberian killer whales and the protection of marine ecosystems within a One Health framework.