The Nai'a Kuwili Project is a long-term study of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) resident along inshore waters around Hawaii. The project's goals are to learn about the behavior and ecology of this species and determine the effects of human interactions on local populations and their habitat. Current research efforts are focused on the use of Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs) to monitor the long-term occurrence of spinner dolphins at various sites across the Hawaiian Islands. This represents an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between spinner dolphins and their habitat. EARs are deployed in areas commonly frequented by spinners to detect their presence acoustically. Detections are then used to infer temporal patterns of occurrence, which can be used to learn about their relationships with prey, seasonal trends in coastal use, and the effects of human activities, such as vessel traffic and dolphin-watching.

Cetacean monitoring - Azores, Portugal

Seamounts are hotspots of marine life in the Azores, acting as feeding stations for diverse top predators, including cetaceans. In 2007 OSI began a collaborative project with the University of the Azores' Department of Oceanography and Fisheries to monitor the seasonal occurrence of dolphins and whales and measure fishing activities in Azorean marine protected areas. Four EARs are currently deployed on banks and seamounts along the Azorean archipelago. Two shallow (35 m) and two deep (190 m) units monitor the occurrence of cetaceans, their temporal patterns and changing levels of activity. A wide variety of acoustic signals have been collected, revealing the presence of many different species and associations between species.

Cetacean monitoring - Husavik, Iceland

Iceland is home to a variety of whales, although many only spend the summer months in Icelandic waters. Iceland is an important feeding ground for cetaceans. The high productivity of the North Atlantic and the structure of coastal areas offer a variety of habitats, suitable for many species with different requirements. Professional whale watching was established in Iceland in 1995 and is now one of the highlights for people visiting the country. Skjalfandi Bay, near the town of Husavik, is considered the whale watch capital of Iceland. Blue whales, humpback whales, minke whales, white beaked dolphins and killer whales all visit the bay regularly. It's also been suggested that cod may spawn there in the spring. In August 2008 OSI began a collaborative effort with the University of Iceland to study the occurrence of whales and dolphins in the bay using EARs. Two units were deployed on opposite sides of the bay in waters 50-75 m deep. It is hoped that the results will reveal annual variability of inter- and intra-species density of cetaceans and also cod in the area. Cod make sounds during spawning and are therefore well suited for acoustic monitoring.