Happywhale - Fin whale in North Atlantic Ocean

Happywhale

Dataset credit

Happywhale and contributors

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Ted Cheeseman Happywhale.com
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Happywhale. 2025. Happywhale - Fin whale in North Atlantic Ocean. Version 1.4.0. Dataset published in OBIS-SEAMAP and originated from Happywhale.com. https://doi.org/10.82144/322351f6.

Abstract

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales.

Purpose

N/A

Supplemental information

Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP.

There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only.

This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 111 contributors in alphabetic order:

Alexa Kershaw; Alex Lamoreaux; Allie Smith; Aurora Expeditions Sylvia Earle; Bea Chater; bev dant; Bjarki; Bob Sadowsky; Bob Schafer; Brendan Quinn; Caitlin Fitzmaurice; Carolina Vieira; Caroline Kelley; Caroline Lagier; Catherine MacRae; Cees Tineke; Cibrán Docampo Piñeiro; Clara Barczewski; Conor Ryan; Corinne Eichler; Cyril VATHELET; Dale Frink; Dan Harville; Danielle Rasmussen; David Boyarski; Devon Helmer; De Wulf Maurina (maluga); Dixie Sommers; Dominique Gallo; Dries De Witte; Duncan; Edy Mercuriali; Elle Harris; Em Dueck; Emma Fowler; Emma Lever; Erin T.; Espaço Talassa; Franck Hollander; Glenn Hodgkins; Grégoire; Harold Moses; Heidi Krajewsky; Holly Morgan-Wynne; ian roberts; Iris Feldmann; Jack Digman; Jamie Coleman; Janelle John; Jason Denesevich; Jennifer Stoudt; Jitka; Joanna Clegg; John Ford; John House; Jorge Espinel; Julie Fesquet; Kari Heistad; Kathie Rokita; Katia Baro; Kerstin Langenberger; Kimberly Nesbitt; Kim VanderMeer; Lacourbas cathy; Lauren Farmer; Lily Morello; Lobosonda; Maddy Montgomery; Madelon Rosenplänter; Margot Sib; Marilia Olio; Marusa Zerjal; Matthias De Kimpe; Max Block; Melissa Martel; Mella Re; Michael Jacob; Michel Moisan; Mindy Huston; Mitch Doucet; MS Fridtjof Nansen; MS Maud; MS Otto Sverdrup; Mya Harblin-Bowlby; Nicasi Joey; Nick Savic; Norbert; Oleksandr Snihur; Patrick Chauvet; Per Nikolaj Bukh; Raimondeau; Ramona D.; Rita Da Costa Leitão; Rory Jackson West Cork Ocean Tours; Samantha Coppola; Sandrine Papias; Sara Franson; Sarah Kather; Sea Fever Productions; Sigrid johnson; Sigrún Helgudóttir; Stephen Tattersall; steve; SwissAndrew; Tamara Nikolaishvili; Theo Vickers; Thomas Stone; Tianshuo Wang; Tobias Brehm; Tyler Robbins; Warren Zimmer

Change History

The dataset has been updated over time as outlined below. Each entry includes the version number, release date, type of change, and a short description.

- 1.4.0 (2026-01-15) - Update
  • Monthly update in Jan 2026
- 1.3.0 (2025-12-15) - Update
  • Monthly update in Dec 2025
- 1.2.0 (2025-11-17) - Update
  • Monthly update in Nov 2025.
- 1.1.0 (2025-09-30) - Update
  • Complete refersh due to database migration in Sep 2025.
- 1.0.0 (2018-02-23) - Initial
  • Initial release.

References

Attributes

Overview

Attributes are defined by Happywhale.com.

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
All attributes are included in the downloadable file (CSV or ESRI File Geodatabase) for "Complete Set of Dataset".

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
oidInternal ID
typeAlways "Event"
modifiedLast modified
languageLanguage. Always "en"
institution_codeInstitution code. Always "Happywhale"
basis_of_recordBasis of record. Always "HumanObservation"
occurrence_idOccurrence ID assigned by Happywhale
catalog_numberCatalog number. A link to Happywhale
recorded_byPerson or organization who recorded the data
individual_countNumber of animal
sexGender of the animal if known
preparationsMethod of data collection. Always "photograph"
occurrence_remarksOccurrence remarks
organism_idOrganism/animal ID assigned by Happywhale
organism_nameOrganism/animal name by provider
organism_remarksOrganism remarks
event_idEvent ID assigned by Happywhale
event_dateDate the picture was taken
event_timeTime the picture was taken in local time zone
higher_geographyOcean the animal was seen
water_bodyDetails of ocean
localityLocation of ocean
verbatim_localityLocation of ocean described by the provider
decimal_latitudeLatitude in decimal degrees
decimal_longitudeLongitude in decimal degrees
geodetic_datumGeodetic datum. Always "EPSG:4326 WGS84"
coordinate_precisionCoordinate precision
scientific_nameScientific name
taxon_rankTaxon rank
vernacular_nameCommon name
licenseLicense for picture
rights_holderRights holder
external_resourceLink to the picture (mid size)
external_resource_thumbLink to the picture (small size)
OBIS-SEAMAP ID1750
DOI10.82144/322351f6
Version1.4.0
Seabirds0
Marine mammals345
Sea turtles0
Rays and sharks0
Other species0
Non spatial0
Non species0
Total345
Date, Begin1996-06-01
Date, End2025-11-03
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude6.61 - 76.25
Longitude-74.67 - 25.75
Coord. prec.6 decimal digits
PlatformBoat
Data typePhoto ID
EffortN/A
Registered2018-02-23
Updated2026-01-15
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC-BY-NC (All)
Sub group(s)Happywhale
Shared with GBIF
OBIS
Metadata in static HTML / FGDC / EML
See download history / statistics