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.

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.

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.

Due to its high productivity, the Hellenic Trench is a refuge for a range of marine life including many cetaceans. It’s the primary habitat for an endangered group of sperm whales found only in the Mediterranean Sea and believed to number less than 200 individuals.

From 23 to 27 January, representatives from 175 countries that make up the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the regulatory body for shipping globally– will meet in London at the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) meeting to continue their review of IMO guidelines to reduce impacts of underwater noise from shipping.

The theme of this year’s United Nations World Oceans Day on 8 June 2022 is ‘Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean’. We’re highlighting the collective action between WWF’s Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative experts, industry, policy makers and governments around the world to safeguard our ocean giants for a thriving ocean.

Today is Endangered Species Day and we’re highlighting the North Atlantic right whale. With just 336 animals left, they are one of the most endangered whales on the planet. Technological innovation and collaboration between science and fisheries is providing newfound hope for these iconic ocean giants.

One of the busiest shipping lanes in the world puts Mediterranean fin whales in the direct path of the massive tankers, cargo ships, and high-speed ferries that criss-cross their waters.

Doris Woo of WWF-Hong Kong is working to give Chinese white dolphins the best chance to stabilise and recover.

If their population continues to decline, North Atlantic right whales may go extinct in less than 30 years. While the task is daunting, protecting their blue corridor from these major threats — including dynamic and mandatory vessel slowdowns and reduction of vertical fishing lines — is possible, and critical, to ensuring the survival of this species.

The growing dangers whales face worldwide along these epic journeys are signs of an unhealthy ocean, and reveal how the ocean connects us all.

The IMO needs to develop mandatory measures to truly limit underwater noise pollution — by keeping the guidelines voluntary, there is no mandate for action.

Increasing shipping traffic worldwide poses a serious threat to whales and dolphins, warns two separate WWF reports launched today, on World Ocean Day. Both call for stronger action from governments and industry to urgently reduce shipping impacts to protect marine life.