Citizen Science coordinator, Anya Astafurova "Working in the polar regions has helped me realize how interconnected we all are and how our actions can impact others."
We caught up with Swan Hellenic’s Anya Astafurova to find out all about marine mammals, citizen scientists and more…
Hey Anya, so what first sparked your passion for marine biology?
Anya: I was obsessed with BBC documentaries when I was a kid. I saw one about the Arctic when I was eight, which introduced me to polar bears. The documentary said climate change meant these beautiful animals might be extinct by 2050 due to sea ice loss. Being a very sensitive but determined child, I decided I needed to get to the Arctic before they disappeared. Remarkably, 14 years later I took part in my very first expedition to Svalbard and my dream came true! Since then, my passions have centered around everything ocean-related and the polar regions.
Can you tell us more about your passion for the polar regions?
Anya: The Arctic and Antarctica feel so otherworldly – like space! Every season I get to explore, learn something new, and research wildlife there. That’s why I pursued a masters in polar and marine sciences, and focused on marine biology in the polar regions. Now, I have my dream job, traveling to study whales, pinnipeds and polar bears.
What unique challenges come with studying marine mammals?
Anya: Weather is the biggest challenge when you’re researching in the Arctic or Antarctica. It can change in an instant and can disrupt even the best-laid plans, so flexibility is key. These unpredictable conditions aren’t just challenges, though, they enrich the experience and help us appreciate the journey and the regions’ raw beauty. We love these regions in all their forms and share our passion with guests, who come to understand and embrace the weather-dependent nature of polar exploration.
Embracing challenges
Tell us about your work with SH please!
Anya: I work with Swan Hellenic as an expedition guide, lecturer, marine biologist, and Citizen Science coordinator, primarily in the polar regions. It is a multitasking role focused on providing interpretation and guidance for guests – whether during landings, zodiac cruises, or through onboard presentations, talks, and workshops. Our mission is to share knowledge while also learning from the environment we’re traveling in, and also from our guests. They’re adventurous and knowledgeable people, which makes it a pleasure to exchange stories and experiences.
How did you first become involved in the Swan Hellenic Citizen Science program?
Anya: When I embarked SH Vega for the very first time, I wanted to develop a Citizen Science Program, as I strongly believe citizen science is an important educational tool. Happywhale is a platform for gathering marine mammal photos from citizen scientists all over the world. It serves the research community as a data source for many whale and seal species. Photo ID has been used for decades by scientists, where unique individually identifiable markings on animals allow them to be tracked. Photographs from citizen scientists can become high value data. Happywhale helps scientists study important ecological questions, such as lifespan and survival, population health, migration patterns, and even social dynamics like family structure. Citizen science is especially important in the polar regions as they are very remote parts of the world and difficult to access. Also, research in the Arctic and Antarctica is extremely expensive, with less data available. All of these factors leave large gaps in our understanding of the fragile polar ecosystems and there’s still a lot we need to learn about them. I’m extremely grateful to my company for supporting this and other initiatives that share knowledge and engage guests, enriching everyone’s experience.
Can you talk us through a typical day for you?
Anya: Well, it’s very weather-dependent! If the weather is perfect, we start early, discuss plans with the expedition leader, and arrange landings. We’ll have a morning activity, and a second outing after lunch, and then briefings or recaps in the evening. If the weather is exceptional, we might even add a third activity in the evening! On sea days, we adapt with lectures, workshops and entertainment such as Trivia games. No matter what the weather is like, the team is always on deck watching out for wildlife because you always see something when you’re out there.
Life at sea
How important is team spirit when you're working on a ship?
Anya: It's extremely important. The people you work with definitely shape the vibe on board. We spend almost 24/7 together – working, eating, and sometimes dealing with challenges. Even though SH Vega has enough space, it is still a closed area we cannot leave whenever we want, so being on the same page is important, and thankfully people in this industry are intelligent, compassionate, and understanding. We lift each other’s spirits, whether it's just having coffee together, playing games, watching movies in the evening.
How do you deal with being at sea for such a long time?
Anya: I don't even think about it now because being at sea feels like home. For me, setting up a routine makes all the difference. My place of peace is the library. I go there for my "me time," to polish up my lectures, enjoy some music, or have a nice chat with guests.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Anya: The people I work with! Even though many might assume wildlife is my number one love, my expedition team and our guests are the main factors making me happy! I enjoy learning from them and they are constantly teaching me something new. If I didn’t like the people, every wildlife encounter wouldn’t be as joyful. That is why people always come first.
How has your work influenced your perspective on the natural world?
Anya: Working in the polar regions divided my life into "before" and "after." It helped me realize how interconnected we all are and how our actions can impact others. What I love most about the polar regions is how they continue to teach me to appreciate every moment – every wildlife encounter and every person I meet – and to never take anything for granted. I love the David Attenborough quote – "No one will protect what they don't care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced." It’s something I often remind myself and share with guests.
Exciting projects
How do you engage guests with the Citizen Science projects?
Anya: We give recaps on every project we take part in. In the field, we run an activity that’s called “Science Boat” during Zodiac cruises. So our guests participate in real surveys – taking samples of phytoplankton, measuring Secchi depth, water salinity, conductivity and temperature, and listening to whales, seals or drifting brush ice with a hydrophone. On land, we collect photo data on snow algae. Plus, we also arrange workshops in our expedition lab, where the guests have a chance to touch real baleens, whale bones, barnacles on whale skin, and look at phytoplankton, krill or plastic found in a whale’s stomach under a microscope. We combine information with hands-on involvement, helping guests deepen their understanding and appreciation of the environment they’re traveling in. They learn more and retain their knowledge better by actively taking part.
What kind of tools do you have available for the Citizen Science projects?
Anya: It really depends on the project. They can be really simple – sometimes it's enough to have a camera and take a picture! For example, to track snow algae growth, we just photograph changes in coloration and then upload the data to a special app. As part of the Secchi Disk project, we teach guests about phytoplankton. Using tools like phytoplankton nets and Secchi disks, we collect samples and then examine them under our onboard microscopes. These tiny organisms are essential not only to the entire marine ecosystem but also to us—phytoplankton produce over 50% of the oxygen we breathe! Citizen science is all about helping researchers collect data in the easiest way possible, and these straightforward tools provide invaluable information.
What are the most rewarding aspects of working with Citizen Science projects?
Anya: Sparkling eyes! For example, when a guest looks at krill under a microscope, they learn those crustaceans have a super-power – they absorb and store carbon equivalent to the emissions of about 35 million cars per year. That’s why we all need mighty krill now more than ever. When guests learn something new, their curiosity grows. The more questions they ask, the more interested they become, and for me, that's the greatest indicator we’re doing a good job.
How does Swan Hellenic contribute to conservation and environmental protection?
Anya: I’m proud to say we collaborate with researchers, scientists, and conservation organizations. We invite scientists on board and assist organizations by collecting samples for their work. By gathering more data, we deepen our understanding and have even more information to share with our guests!
Marine moments
What marine mammal species fascinate you most and why?
Anya: In the Arctic, it's always the polar bear, my childhood dream. I never get tired of encountering them. I even get a bit too emotional sometimes. I deeply admire their endurance, patience, and strength. The way they can sit next to the ice hole waiting for a ringed seal to pop up always impresses me or watching polar bear cubs following their mother and repeating every step she makes always warms my heart. In Antarctica, it's definitely killer whales. I’m fascinated by their intelligence, social organization, hunting tactics and how much we still don't know about them. They're intriguing, mysterious, epic predators, and I feel very privileged to encounter them.
And which marine mammal species do Swan Hellenic guests like most?
Anya: Every wildlife encounter turns visitors of any age into curious kids, happy to experience anything that might pop up. I enjoy seeing their joy, whether it’s spotting an Arctic fox as it darts behind a slope or witnessing a humpback whale coming up the surface to take a breath – the whale’s blow sound, that noise, is quite special.
How good are Swan Hellenic guests at identifying marine mammals?
Anya: Swan Hellenic guests are extremely good at identifying marine mammals. Many are well experienced travelers, who are deeply passionate about the regions we travel to. I always end my lectures with a quiz on whale and pinniped identification, which they love because it’s a fun way to learn!
Can you share a particularly memorable marine mammal encounter?
Anya: There have been so many! One in Antarctica stands out though. Last year, after one of our humpback whales encounters I, as always, checked our Happywhale database to see if the whale’s fluke had been recorded before. The whales turned out to be new to science, and I announced this exciting discovery to the guests, who were thrilled! Two guests wanted to adopt the new whale, but gave me the opportunity to choose its name. So I named it after my late granny – Babushka Nina (Granny Nina)! As you can see, every whale has a story to tell and now I feel a special connection to the Babushka Nina whale. Anyone can search for her on Happywhale to see her story continue! Her ID on Happywhale is HW-MN1305566.
What advice would you give to aspiring marine biologists?
Anya: Take chances! Even if your dream is studying apex predators like polar bears or whales, don’t pass up an expedition collecting phytoplankton samples – you never know who you’ll meet. Connections are extremely important, and many big names in science are surprisingly humble and happy to share their knowledge. Science is all about sharing, and reaching out to experts can yield invaluable advice!
Anya Astafurova, SH Marine Biologist, Expedition Team