Since 2007, Elding has studied minke whales with a method called photo-identification. This non-invasive research is based on taking photographs of the dorsal fins and looking for any characteristic markings such as nicks or notches, shape and size. When we are able to identify an individual, it is added to our minke whale catalogue.

Humpback whales are one of the easiest species to identify individuals, using their unique markings on their bodies but most importantly under their tail. These identifiers can be in the frorm og black and white pigment variations and patterns under their tails, just like human fingerprints.