By Emily Longhurst

National Dolphin Census Day is being held this Saturday and it is not too late for Northern Rivers residents to take part.

All volunteers need to do is complete a free online induction course that takes less than an hour before joining the count.

Citizen scientists across NSW will spend at least 15 minutes watching for dolphins from beaches, headlands, estuaries, bays and coastal waterways.

Their observations will help researchers build the first comprehensive snapshot of dolphin populations along the NSW coastline.

The Census is being run by Dolphin Research Australia and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Dolphin Research Australia chief executive officer Dr Liz Hawkins said the early response had been strong.

“Already we have over 380 people registered across the state, and it’s exciting to see so many enthusiastic citizen scientists ready to help monitor dolphins and whales,” she said.

In the lead-up, workshops along the coast have trained Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers, school teachers from the NSW STEM Coastal Academy and community volunteers at Lennox Head, Forster, Coffs Harbour, Hastings Point, the Tweed Shire and online.

Taking part is simple. Volunteers need to register and complete the self-paced online course, which explains standard counting methods and how to submit observations.

NPWS Marine Wildlife Officer Andy Marshall said the survey would break new ground.

“This is an important survey on Saturday, building a picture of dolphin distribution and abundance along the NSW coast for the first time,” he said.

On the day, each volunteer will spend at least 15 minutes watching for dolphins without a break from a favourite vantage point.

Photo credit: Dolphin Research Australia

People can take part alone, with friends or in a group, and are encouraged to bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens.

The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is the species most commonly seen along the NSW coast.

It lives in estuaries, harbours and coastal waters, and is known for playing in the surf. Globally, the species is listed as Near Threatened.

Other species are also seen in NSW waters, including the larger offshore bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin and Australian humpback dolphin.

Observers occasionally spot orcas and false killer whales, which are both members of the dolphin family, as well as smaller oceanic dolphins and Risso’s dolphins.

Information gathered during the survey will help researchers understand which habitats dolphins use, where population hotspots exist and which species are present.

Mr Marshall said that knowledge would help protect the animals into the future.

“We need to know more information about these incredible species so we can better conserve their habitat and protect them into the future,” he said.

Some research suggests female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins stay close to the stretch of coast where they were born, while males may roam more widely.

Dr Hawkins said anyone who cared about marine life could play a role.

“If you care about dolphin and whale conservation, this is your chance to make a difference and help fill vital knowledge gaps,” she said.

“Working together as coastal communities we can help improve our understanding and conservation of dolphins and their habitats,” she said.

Mr Marshall said joining in was easy.

“You can help out, just register, complete the training and bring your binoculars along on Saturday,” he said.

People who want to take part can register online through the NSW Dolphin Census website.