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New government marine wildlife code to help reduce dolphin disturbance

The launch today by UK Government of new guidance on how to act responsibly around...

UK government to extend ivory ban to stop the sale of orca teeth

Following the UK ban on the import, export and dealing of elephant ivory in 2022,...

Dead whale beauty products to be sold in Japanese vending machine stores

Antarctic minke whale alongside Japanese whaling ship. Photo © Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert Japanese whale hunting company,...

Arrests made following illegal whale meat smuggling from Japan to South Korea

Customs authorities in Busan, South Korea, have arrested six people for allegedly smuggling at least...

Beaked whale in Norway had 30 plastic bags in stomach

A sick Cuvier’s beaked whale that was euthanized after stranding on a beach in southwestern Norway, had thirty plastic bags and other waste in his stomach. The discovery was made during an necropsy of the whale by a team from the University of Bergen.

The 20ft adult male whale beached on the island of Sotra, near Bergen on Saturday despite attempts to send it back out to sea. According to Dr Terje Lislevand, one of the team who performed the necropsy: “The whale’s stomach was full of plastic bags and packaging with labels in Danish and English.” He went on to say that whale was probably in serious pain for a long time before he stranded, the first time this species has stranded in Norway.

The bags included sweet wrappers, bread bags and a crisp packet. It is believed the whale may have mistaken them for squid which they usually prey on.

The United Nations estimates that about 8 million tons of plastic rubbish are put in the oceans every year. 

Find out how you can help stop plastic pollution in our oceans.

About George Berry

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