NW Mediterranean PSSA Designated to Protect Whales
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has designated the North-Western Mediterranean Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) to reduce collisions between ships and endangered whales. The decision, proposed by Spain, France, Italy, and Monaco, aims to address the major cause of mortality for sperm whales and fin whales in this region, which is collisions […]
Iceland Suspends Fin Whale Hunting
Reykjavik, Iceland – On the 20th June 2023 in a landmark decision, Icelandic Fisheries Minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir announces that the country will suspend fin whale hunting until the end of August 2023. This decision comes after a thorough examination by experts from Iceland’s Animal Welfare Board, who concluded that the hunting methods employed by whalers […]
Shipping Company Saving Endangered Sperm Whales
One of the largest shipping companies in Europe, DFDS, will alter their routes and slow down to reduce the risk of collisions with endangered sperm whales in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The planned changes should halve the risk of DFDS ships colliding with sperm whales in the areas west of the Peloponnese. The Danish-based company […]
IFAW Blue Speeds: Slower Shipping to Save Whales
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has recently launched a campaign to tackle shipping threats faced by marine mammals in Europe, through an enterprising scheme called Blue Speeds. They are calling on ships travelling to and from European ports to slow their speeds in order to reduce noise pollution, reduce the risk of collisions […]
Convention on Migratory Species Tackles Noise Pollution
On World Oceans Day, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) released a landmark report aimed at addressing a major threat to marine species: noise pollution. Noise pollution is known to cause significant disturbance to marine wildlife, including migratory species protected under CMS such as whales and dolphins (and their […]
WWF: Whale Superhighway Needs Urgent Protection
WWF and the marine mammal science community is calling for renewed cooperation with the aim of protecting migrating whale populations by mitigating threats and implementing measurable change across the Eastern Pacific Ocean region. WWF and their partners have identified actions for governments, industry, and individuals to safeguard migratory routes in the region by 2030. The […]
#WalkWithWhales Immersive AR Experience
June 8th is World Ocean Day, and to mark the occasion, Blue Marine Foundation have launched a one-of-a-kind, immersive, augmented reality (AR) experience where you can step into life underwater and see the world through the eyes of a humpback whale. Dive in and explore the mystery of the ocean in the company of some […]
Marine Mammal Twinning and Commonwealth Blue Charter Webinar
On the 20th of June, the Marine Mammal Twinning will be hosting a training webinar in collaboration with the Commonwealth Blue Charter, with representatives from the Blue Charter Champion countries, and their MPA Action Group. The webinar will introduce the Marine Mammals Management Toolkit, a capacity building resource aimed at empowering marine mammals and MPA practitioners […]
The Marine Mammals Management Toolkit launches the SAT-LITE
To bolster the resources available to managers and marine users to effectively manage Marine Protected Areas (MPA) for the benefit of marine mammals, the Marine Mammal Twinning has launched the fifth core component of the Marine Mammals Management Toolkit – the SAT-LITE. As the reduced version of the already established Self-Assessment Tool, the SAT-LITE bridges […]
Marine Mammal Twinning and WIOMSA – Recorded Webinar
On the 13th of April, the Marine Mammal Twinning hosted a training webinar in collaboration with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Area Network (WIOMPAN) to MPA and marine mammal practitioners in the Western Indian Ocean. The webinar was a great opportunity to introduce the Marine […]
