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 […]
Commercial Vessel Restrictions: Southern Right Whales Protected in the US and Canada
Masters and crews who operate along the US/Canadian East Coast must now keep a lookout for North Atlantic Right whales, who live almost exclusively in this region. Transport Canada has recently announced that during the 2023 whale season, vessel traffic measures will be enforced in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from 19 April to 15 […]
The Second World Ocean Assessment
The United Nations released The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) that forms the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the World’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.
Marine Mammal Conservation: over the horizon
New research, published in Endangered Species Research, demonstrates that marine mammals are at a crucial crossroads as bycatch, climate change and pollution continue to drive decline. Despite this, however, there are stories of success with some populations showing signs of recovery as a result of management interventions.
