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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...

Breaking News: Saving whales is an important part of our economy

A new study, published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, concluded that marine stewardship plays a significant economic role, surpassing even some commercial fisheries and watching whales, well known economic drivers.

The study quantified the value of donations and volunteer time of 45 marine conservation organizations based in Massachusetts including Whale and Dolphin Conservation, North America and found: 

  • Marine stewardship and conservation activities contributed $179 million in a single year to the economy of Massachusetts surpassing the commercial harvest of finfish ($105 million) and whale watching ($111 million).
  • The economic value of environmental stewardship activities are frequently overlooked, ultimately harming coastal ecosystem management decisions and local economies.
Economic value of marine activitiesPrevious work evaluating the economic value of whales has typically been tied only to whale watching and not to the important work of saving whales. This study reinforces that conservation organizations are both environmental and economic drivers and need to be sustained.

“Whales play a role in helping to create a healthy ocean ecosystem on which we rely to breathe, to eat, and to fight climate change” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, WDC-NA executive Director “and now we have confirmation that the work WDC does to protect whales not only has a direct and significant benefit to whales and the environment, but also to the economy.” 

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About Regina Asmutis-silvia

Executive director - WDC North America