Latest news and stories about whale and dolphin conservation
WWF condemns Iceland’s decision to conduct commercial whaling
WWF condemns Iceland’s recent decision to issue new whale hunting permits for the next five years. This decision by Iceland’s outgoing government means that the country’s commercial whaling industry will be allowed to catch 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales between June and September every year from 2025 until 2029.
COP16 delivers mixed results for the ocean
Countries celebrated significant breakthroughs on two important, long-debated ocean-related technical decisions, but failed to reach consensus on the resource mobilization and review mechanisms needed to drive progress for the ocean across the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Antarctic conservation takes a backward step
The body responsible for conserving Antarctic marine life has failed to agree on new marine protected areas and taken a substantial step backward on krill fisheries management at its annual meeting in Hobart.
WWF launches an online report mapping Arctic whale migrations amid increasing threats to their migration routes, known as blue corridors
A new report from the WWF Global Arctic Programme highlights the urgency of taking concrete action to safeguard Arctic whales on their migrations, as they are faced with new and growing pressure from climate change and increased shipping activity.
Using acoustic deterrents to safeguard dolphins from bycatch in Peru
Since 2018, WWF Peru has conducted experimental trials with dolphin pingers to evaluate the reduction of dolphin bycatch in artisanal fishery gillnets.
What a whale needs
Using cutting-edge technology, researchers are uncovering profound links among ocean health, climate change, and the denizens of the deep.
Convention on Migratory Species meeting adopts stronger protection measures, including ecological connectivity
The 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP14) of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals ended with the adoption of a set of stronger measures for the conservation of migratory species.
Arctic Watch: Navigating safe shipping in the Arctic
Expanding maritime activity in this area of the world presents new risks, including oil spills, vessel strikes, underwater noise, and other forms of human disturbance and pollution. To help mitigate these risks, WWF and the Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK) are working with experts to develop a set of wildlife alerts that MXAK will seasonally broadcast to vessels.
Mitigating bycatch: Policy innovation to fight growing fisheries bycatch in the Indian Ocean
WWF is working with partners to respond to the greatest threat to whales, dolphins and porpoises worldwide. Here we highlight collaborative efforts to implement effective policies in the Indian Ocean.
A noisy abyss: How deep seabed mining could impact whales
Deep seabed mining, should it be allowed to proceed, will cause a wide array of impacts on the ocean, including noise pollution, not to mention habitat destruction through the collection of mineral deposits from the seabed.
Whales: Nature-based buffers against the climate crisis
Whales play an important role when it comes to climate change mitigation. Scientists recently discovered that whales can capture significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Estimates indicate that one whale’s ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere is equal to that of thousands of trees.
Agreement signed to protect cetaceans from growing risks of ship strikes and underwater noise pollution in northern Patagonia, coastal Chile
A new alliance commencing with voluntary measures is a significant first to improve the conservation of whales with benefits to other marine life and coastal communities in Chile.
Countries fail to deliver greater protection for the Antarctic despite threats of record low sea ice and bird flu
Governments responsible for conserving Antarctic marine life have failed to deliver increased protection at a meeting in Hobart despite the threats of record low sea ice and the first cases of bird flu reaching Antarctica.
For the first time, researchers track the full migration cycle of an Australian southern right whale
With the help of satellite tags, researchers from the University of Western Australia and Macquarie University, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, were able to follow the complete migration cycle of an Australian southern right whale for the very first time.
Antarctica’s sea ice crisis: Climate change threatens Antarctic wildlife as sea ice levels drop
Antarctic sea ice provides refuge for a range of species, from tiny crustaceans like Antarctic krill to the largest penguin species – the emperor penguin, who rely on sea ice habitats for their survival. As the Antarctic environment experiences rapid environmental change, many Antarctic species are feeling the heat.
Record low sea ice signals need for swift and greater protection of Antarctica, warns WWF
WWF is calling on the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to prioritise the conservation of Antarctic wildlife and designate three new marine protected areas (MPAs) as sea-ice has declined to record lows, causing mass deaths of vulnerable species and potentially signalling Antarctica's shift to an unstable state.
Governments signal strong support for swift ratification of High Seas Treaty
Governments signal strong support for swift ratification of High Seas Treaty.
International experts map critical habitats for whales and dolphins in the South West Atlantic Ocean, ready for further conservation and protection
Regional experts, along with the IUCN Marine Mammal Task Force, have identified and mapped 33 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) stretching from the Guianas, north of the Brazilian Amazon, to the tip of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Using acoustic sonar technology to locate and tackle ghost gear
WWF France is helping tackle ghost gear in the Mediterranean Sea. Their main goal is to help reduce the amount of lost gear in French Mediterranean waters by using an innovative and efficient way to locate ghost gear: acoustic sonar technology.