This year, we had the opportunity to attend boot Düsseldorf, Europe’s largest boat show, as part of the team of Iberian Orca Guardians Foundation.

During the event, we gave two talks focused on the Iberian orcas and the urgent need to change the narrative around their interactions with vessels, especially sailing boats. With the topic receiving so much media attention in recent years, it felt more important than ever to bring a calmer, science-based and conservation-focused perspective to the nautical community.

The first talk was presented by Janek Andre, founder of WeWhale and co-founder of Iberian Orca Guardians, together with Dr. Cristina Otero Sabio, scientific coordinator of the Save the Iberian Orca campaign. They shared insights into the current situation of the Iberian orcas, the work being carried out in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the importance of improving coexistence between humans and orcas at sea.

The second talk brought together Janek and Alexandra Johnston, orca conservationist, storyteller and collaborator of the project, with the online participation of Sarah Connor, co-founder of Iberian Orca Guardians alongside Janek. Together, they explored the broader conservation challenges facing this critically endangered population and reflected on the importance of communication, education and public perception in marine conservation.

We also shared some of the results and experiences from the Save the Iberian Orca 2025 campaign, highlighting both the conservation challenges and the work being done to better understand and protect these animals.