Search
Close this search box.

IWC Extinction Alert: vaquita porpoise

Scientific Committee issues first ever extinction alert: grave concern for the survival of the vaquita porpoise “Despite nearly thirty years of repeated warnings, the vaquita hovers on the edge of extinction due to gillnet entanglement.” The plight of the vaquita porpoise has led the Scientific Committee of the IWC to issue its first ever Extinction […]

Whale Heritage Sites, what are they?

In an effort to protect and celebrate the world’s most charismatic marine creatures, the concept of “Whale Heritage Sites” has emerged as a beacon of hope for whale conservationists worldwide. These sites are dedicated areas recognised for their commitment to safeguarding the natural habitat of whales and promoting sustainable whale-watching practices. As more and more […]

Facial Recognition Software Used to ID Whales and Dolphins

A ground-breaking new tool that uses facial recognition technology to identify individual whales and dolphins in the wild has been developed by researchers at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology. The tool, which can identify 24 species of marine mammals, could be a game changer for the management and conservation […]

Reductions in Vessel Speed Reduce Noise Impacts on Marine Mammals

In a recent study published by the Advances in Science journal, researchers have found that even minor reductions in cargo vessel speed can have a significant impact on reducing underwater nose levels and the detrimental effects they have on marine mammals. The study emphasizes the urgent need for global actions to mitigate the increasing cumulative […]

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

Source: DFDS

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 […]

Commercial Vessel Restrictions: Southern Right Whales Protected in the US and Canada

Ocean Image Bank Cameron Venti

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 […]

Translate this Page