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Japanese whaling ship

Infamous whale slaughter ship docks for the final time

The whaling ship, Nisshin Maru has returned to the port of Shimonoseki for the final...
Sperm whale

Dominica announces new protections for sperm whales

Dominica has placed almost 800 square kilometers of sea off the west coast of the...
Porpoise dies after becoming entangled in fishing net

UK government rejects chance to protect whales and dolphins

The government has formally rejected almost all of the crucial recommendations made in a House...
Common dolphins © Christopher Swann

Ocean areas selected for conservation are now in danger says task force

The international task force celebrating 10 years of work mapping out Important Marine Mammal Areas...

Rare whales may get protection after oil drilling go-ahead

A rare and unique population of Bryde’s whale that live in the Gulf of Mexico may be awarded greater protection after US authorities opened up a small area of their habitat in the DeSoto Canyon off the Florida Panhandle for oil drilling operations.

Even though Bryde’s whales are found in tropical waters across the globe, this population is thought to be genetically separate. The whales were only recently discovered and there are thought to be maybe less than 50 or so in the group.

As well as the potential for pollution, increased noise and collisions with boats also pose a threat to the whales. Last month, the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced it was considering giving the whales endangered or threatened status. If the whales are granted this new recognition, regulators would need to establish critical habitat protection and take further measures to consider their conservation needs them before any drilling-related activities could start.

Bryde's whale

About George Berry

George is a member of WDC's Communications team and website coordinator.