What Cascadia Research Collective does

Cascadia Research Collective is a Washington State-incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit marine mammal research organization founded in 1979 in Olympia by Evergreen State College graduates including John Calambokidis. Its core activities are long-term scientific research, education, publications, and technical services focused on marine mammals, seabirds, and pollution ecology. The organization operates two principal geographies: the US West Coast (gray whales, humpback and blue whales, SOCAL and Delphinid Behavioral Response Studies, stranding and entanglement response) and Hawai'i (27+ years of odontocete research covering 13+ species and the endangered Main Hawaiian Islands false killer whale population). It does not sell products or services; funding flows from federal grants (NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Office of Naval Research, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife), state contracts (State of Hawai'i), private foundation grants (Dolphin Quest, Brookfield Zoo Chicago), and individual donations processed via GiveButter.

Underlying technical capabilities include a long-term photo-identification catalog (5,500+ humpbacks and 2,500+ blue whales on the US West Coast), co-development of the TADpole single-pin finmount satellite tag deployment system with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, deployment of Wildlife Computers SPOT/SPLASH/LIMPET satellite tags across multiple cetacean species (500+ tags historically), drone-based laser photogrammetry for body condition, environmental DNA metabarcoding, and integration with Scripps Acoustic Ecology Laboratory's passive acoustic monitoring arrays. A community science network of whale watching operators, sportfishing charters, and fishermen contributes photographs via Hightail and email to extend catalog coverage. Cascadia holds NMFS Scientific Research Permits (Nos. 26596 and 20605) authorizing research on listed cetaceans and maintains active stranding and entanglement response hotlines in Washington State.

Name

Cascadia Research Collective

Legal name

Cascadia Research Collective

Website

https://cascadiaresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cascadia Research Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit marine mammal research organization founded in 1979 in Olympia, Washington, conducting long-term photo-identification, satellite tagging, and field studies on cetaceans across the US West Coast and Hawaiian Islands, funded primarily by federal grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Mammal Research Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Directory and Mailing List Publishers (51314)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental DNA (eDNA) & Advanced Biodiversity Methods (Bioacoustics, Camera Traps) (EUAHAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Marine mammal research
• Cetacean photo identification
• Satellite tag deployment
• Whale stranding response
• Marine conservation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government grants and contracts: Primary revenue stream since incorporation in 1979; grants and contracts received primarily from US government agencies including NOAA (Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Species Recovery Grants to State of Hawai'i, Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program), Office of Naval Research, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Multi-year project-based funding for specific research studies.
2. Individual donations and charitable contributions: 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization accepting donations via GiveButter payment platform, with options to donate stocks and appreciated assets, set up charitable bequests, or cover payment processing fees. Donations support long-term research and rapid response operations.
3. Private foundation and corporate grants: Targeted grants from organizations such as Dolphin Quest, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, and the Commander, Pacific Fleet (US Navy) supporting specific tagging work and field projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Cascadia Research Collective conducts long-term scientific research, photo-identification cataloging, satellite tagging, and field response services on marine mammals (primarily cetaceans) along the U.S. West Coast and in the Hawaiian Islands. It maintains the largest known photo-ID catalogs for eastern North Pacific humpback and blue whales, deploys satellite tags on multiple odontocete species, and operates a state-wide stranding and large whale entanglement response network. Its work is delivered through grant- and contract-funded research programs, peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and a community science photo-submission initiative.

Product overview

Cascadia Research Collective does not sell a software product. Its offering is a portfolio of long-term scientific research programs, photo-identification catalogs, field surveys, stranding and entanglement response services, and scientific publications. The research falls into four lenses (Research, Innovation, Collaboration, Education) and spans two geographies: the U.S. West Coast (Sounders gray whales, Pacific Coast Feeding Group gray whales, humpback and blue whale photo-ID, blue whale ship-strike work, West Coast stranding and entanglement response, SOCAL and Delphinid Behavioral Response Studies) and Hawai'i (Hawaiian Cetacean Studies and 13+ species-specific photo-ID catalogs, including the endangered main Hawaiian Islands false killer whales). Underlying capabilities — such as Wildlife Computers SPOT/SPLASH/LIMPET and TADpole finmount satellite tags, drone-based laser photogrammetry, eDNA metabarcoding, and Scripps acoustic monitoring — are deployed across multiple products rather than being standalone modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Sounders - North Puget Sound Gray Whale Photo-ID and Feeding Study Long-term photo-identification study of a small resident population of gray whales (the Sounders) that depends on Puget Sound, maintaining an individual-ID catalog and documenting feeding behavior.
• Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) Gray Whales Research on the Pacific Coast Feeding Group of gray whales that feed along the Pacific coast between northern California and northern Washington, including photo-identification, movements, and population monitoring.
• Humpback and Blue Whale Photo-ID (U.S. West Coast) Long-term photo-identification catalog covering 5,500+ unique humpback whales and 2,500+ unique blue whales along the U.S. West Coast, built on Cascadia surveys and community-scientist submissions.
• Blue Whale Ship Strikes Documentation and response program for blue whale injuries and mortalities caused by vessel strikes off the U.S. West Coast, integrated with Cascadia's blue whale photo-ID catalog.
• Stranding Response Program (Washington State) Operates the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline (1-866-767-6114) and Cascadia's local stranding hotline (360-791-9555), coordinating response to dead, injured, or stranded marine mammals in Washington State.
• West Coast Large Whale Entanglement Response Program Large-whale disentanglement network for the U.S. West Coast, including the Salish Sea and Hawaiian Islands; coordinates with NOAA disentanglement experts and partners like SR3 to free entangled humpback, gray, and other large whales.
• SOCAL-Behavioral Response Study Southern California Behavioral Response Study examining behavioral responses of cetaceans to anthropogenic sound, in collaboration with Southall Environmental Associates and other partners, including the October 2024 project filmed for PBS SoCal's Earth Focus.
• Delphinid-Behavioral Response Study Behavioral response study focused on delphinids (dolphins) in California waters, complementing SOCAL-BRS and supporting Cascadia's photo-ID catalog work.
• Hawaiian Cetacean Studies 27+ year research program on Hawaiian odontocetes (toothed whales and dolphins) and large whales, comprising 13+ species-specific photo-ID catalogs and recurring field projects around the main Hawaiian Islands.
• Main Hawaiian Islands False Killer Whale Research Targeted research on the Endangered Species Act-listed main Hawaiian Islands insular population of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), tracking social Clusters 1-4 via photo-ID, LIMPET satellite tagging, biopsy sampling for genetics/toxicology/hormones, and collaborative efforts with Scripps Acoustic Ecology Laboratory.
• Community Science at Cascadia
• Cascadia Publications Library Public catalog of Cascadia's peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and conference presentations on marine mammals, seabirds, pollution, and related topics, with full-text PDFs available for many items.

Quantifiable outcome

• Identified 5,500+ unique humpback whales in photo-ID catalog as of 2018
• +4 more outcomes

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the TADpole single-pin finmount satellite tag deployment system used by Cascadia. Michael Moore of WHOI developed the TADpole tagging device that Cascadia now uses to deploy tags on spinner, bottlenose, and pantropical spotted dolphins. Cascadia also references a 2024 Moore et al. paper on the TADpole system co-developed with Sarasota Dolphin Research Program.
• Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Sarasota Dolphin Research ProgramflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRandy Wells of the Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program co-developed the TADpole tagging system with WHOI's Michael Moore. Researchers from SDRP (Randy Wells, Aaron Barleycorn) participated directly in Cascadia's June 2025 O'ahu field project deploying single-pin Finmount satellite tags. The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program also previously used TADpole successfully with Atlantic spotted dolphins off Florida.
• Pulama Lāna'icoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides critical logistical support for Cascadia's field research efforts based off the island of Lāna'i, including the July 2024 and October 2025 field projects. Pulama Lāna'i also serves as a sub-permittee of the Hawai'i Wildlife Center for wildlife response.
• Scripps Acoustic Ecology Laboratory (Scripps Institution of Oceanography)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for the December 2020 Maui Nui Field Project. Scripps deployed a long-term passive acoustic array west of Lāna'i with fisheries echosounder and CTD sensors to track vocalizing cetaceans in high-density false killer whale habitat while Cascadia conducted boat-based photo-ID and satellite tagging.
• Captain ZodiacminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided facilitation support for Cascadia's December 2020 Maui Nui Field Project off Lāna'i.
• Southall Environmental AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrandon Southall of Southall Environmental Associates headed the SOCAL Behavioral Response Study (BRS) project, with Cascadia Research as a major collaborator. Cascadia provided observers and handled small boat operations deploying hydrophones, operating the sound source, and collecting biopsy samples. Project featured in PBS SoCal 'Earth Focus: Examining the Impact of Sound on Marine Life'.
• Sealife Response, Rehab and Research (SR3)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with Cascadia on marine mammal stranding response in the Pacific Northwest, including joint disentanglement and necropsy work on gray whales (2018-2024) and emergency response to entangled whales in the Salish Sea.
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner collaborating on large whale surveys, stranding response and necropsies, and entanglement response in Washington State waters. Joint research effort to learn more about occurrence of endangered whales off Washington.
• World VetsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with Cascadia on marine mammal stranding examinations and necropsies in Washington State, including joint gray whale examinations during the 2019 Unusual Mortality Event.
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in NOAA-supported three-year research effort to study occurrence of large whales including blue whales off Washington and Oregon coasts.
• UheheuminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJordan Lerma of Uheheu participated in Cascadia's February/March 2018 Lāna'i field project as part of the research crew.
• Hawaiian Adventures KonaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal whale watching / charter operator that provided a call-in sighting of pygmy killer whales during Cascadia's November 2025 Hawai'i Island field project, enabling a productive encounter.
• Hawai'i Wildlife CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWildlife rehabilitation organization partnered for sea bird and wildlife response during Cascadia's October 2025 Lāna'i field project, with Pulama Lāna'i acting as a sub-permittee.
• California Ocean AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJohn Calambokidis participated in the kickoff fundraiser for California Ocean Alliance and performed at the 'Ales for Whales' event in Santa Cruz in April 2018 to raise funds for their education program.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Marine Mammal Foundation: Non-profit dedicated to marine mammal science, veterinary care, and conservation, with strong ties to Navy-funded marine mammal research. Comparable to Cascadia in its blend of applied research, veterinary science, and federal grant dependency.
• Southall Environmental Associates (SEA): Marine acoustics and behavioral response research firm. Led the SOCAL-BRS project with Cascadia as a major collaborator, conducting cetacean behavioral response studies to anthropogenic sound — closely aligned with Cascadia's SOCAL-BRS and Delphinid-BRS programs.
• The Marine Mammal Center: Non-profit marine mammal research, response, and rehabilitation organization based in Sausalito, California. Operates a stranding response network along the California coast and conducts peer-reviewed research on cetacean and pinniped health, overlapping with Cascadia's stranding and entanglement response work.
• Alaska SeaLife Center: Non-profit marine research and response facility in Seward, Alaska. Conducts research on cetaceans, pinnipeds, and seabirds in Alaskan waters and operates stranding response — directly comparable to Cascadia's Alaska field research and Pacific Northwest response work.
• Pacific Marine Mammal Center: Laguna Beach-based non-profit marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, and research organization. Operates a stranding response network in Southern California and conducts applied cetacean and pinniped research, comparable to Cascadia's response-oriented programs.
• Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute: Non-profit marine research organization focused on marine mammals, fisheries, and ecosystem health. Conducts photo-identification, tagging, and behavioral research on cetaceans and pinnipeds comparable in scope and methodology to Cascadia's West Coast work.
• Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB): University of Hawai'i marine research institute on Moku o Loʻe that conducts extensive cetacean research in Hawaiian waters, including false killer whales, spinner dolphins, and beaked whales. Directly comparable to Cascadia's 27+ year Hawaiian odontocete program.

Broad incumbents

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Major oceanographic research institution whose Acoustic Ecology Laboratory collaborated with Cascadia on the December 2020 Maui Nui false killer whale project. Operates passive acoustic arrays across the Pacific, partially overlapping with Cascadia's cetacean monitoring scope.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Large, established oceanographic research institution that co-developed the TADpole satellite tag deployment system with Cascadia and Brookfield Zoo. Operates a much broader ocean science portfolio but is a key collaborator and partial peer in cetacean tagging technology.

Emerging players

• Sealife Response, Rehab and Research (SR3): Pacific Northwest non-profit specializing in marine mammal stranding response, necropsy, and disentanglement. Direct collaborator with Cascadia on joint gray whale examinations (2018-2024) and Salish Sea entanglement response, and an emerging peer in regional response operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cascadiares
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CascadiaResearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/CascadiaResearch
• Instagraminstagram.com/cascadiaresearch
• TikToktiktok.com/@cascadiaresearch?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cascadia Research Collective