Around the world, orcas, also known as killer whales, specialize their diets, often feeding on a single prey species. Some populations rely almost entirely on fish such as salmon or herring. Others hunt marine mammals. But the orcas off Iceland’s coast aren’t like the rest. Here, some chow on herring, while others switch between fish and marine mammals, feeding across multiple levels of the food chain. Since 2008, scientists have been working to understand why—and what it means for the whales' health, reproduction and survival over time. Join one of the first long-term studies of killer whale diets and track these apex predators to document how they hunt, what they target and how those choices affect their health and survival. From cliffside lookouts and small research vessels, help track whales, recording where they go, what they do and what they eat. Against Iceland’s raw coastal landscapes, you’ll see how a top predator adapts—and what that reveals about the ocean it depends on.
Research at a Glance
Your Role in Research
The Research Focus
Study what Iceland’s killer whales eat and how they move, examining how changing prey affects feeding, health and survival.
What You'll Do
Scan for whales from coastal lookouts, head out by boat to observe behavior and feeding, and record sightings and activity in the field.
Why It Matters
Understanding killer whale diet helps predict how whales respond to changing prey and informs conservation of the ecosystems they depend on.
Meet Your Lead Scientist
Your Research Team
Filipa Samarra
Dr. Filipa Samarra has spent years studying killer whales in the North Atlantic, focusing on their behavior, communication and social structure. She is also a director at the University of Iceland Research Center in Vestmannaeyjar, where her work contributes to long-term research and conservation of this apex predator.
Join a First-of-Its-Kind Orca Study
Help scientists uncover what Iceland’s killer whales eat—and what that means for their health, reproduction and future.
Get Close to Whales in the Field
From small boats, you’ll be mere feet from wild whales as they surface, feed and move through the island-studded waters.
Explore Iceland’s Wild Southern Coast
Travel along a rugged shoreline where seabird cliffs rise above open ocean and puffins and whales move through the exposed North Atlantic.
Discovery in the Field
Join a First-of-Its-Kind Orca Study
Take part in one of the first long-term efforts to understand what Iceland’s killer whales eat and how shifting prey affects their health, reproduction and survival.See a Rare Feeding Strategy Up Close
Observe killer whales that switch between fish and marine mammals—an uncommon behavior that may reveal how they adapt to changing ocean conditions.Discover Vestmannaeyjar’s Volcanic Islands
Journey to a remote archipelago formed by eruptions and shaped by the sea, where lava fields, steep cliffs and cold waters define the landscape.Watch Puffins Up Close
Observe thousands of puffins nesting along sea cliffs, returning from the ocean with beaks full of small fish. What they bring back offers a clear look at what’s abundant in the waters just offshore.Understand the People and Ideas Behind the Research
Spend time with the scientists leading Iceland’s killer whale study and explore how research connects to shifting prey, ocean change and long-term survival.Encounter Extraordinary Wildlife
Follow whales, dolphins and seabirds using the same feeding grounds, revealing how predators overlap, compete and respond to changes in prey.Learn From an Expert Field Guide
Your Field Guide ensures each day runs smoothly, coordinating logistics and providing insight that connects Iceland’s landscapes, wildlife and research.Travel With a Small Group
Because we intentionally limit our group size, each participant is guaranteed quality time in the field, meaningful interaction and an active role in daily research activities.Explore with Purpose
Take part in fieldwork that supports ongoing marine research, contributing to the understanding and protection of killer whales and the ecosystems they depend on.
