Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching

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...

More important ocean areas for whales and dolphin protection identified

IMMA Map

Scientists and observers from many different countries have identified and mapped 36 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs), from northern Mexico to the southern tip of Chile.

IMMAs are essentially portions of ocean important to marine mammal species that have the potential to be set aside for conservation management.

The addition of the latest 36 important areas brings the number of IMMAs worldwide to 209.

If we can identify and create areas that help protect whales and dolphins then we can help create a healthier ocean, and a healthy ocean helps fight climate breakdown.

Nearly half of the world’s 132 marine mammal species—whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions and sea otters – live or pass through the 36 recently mapped areas.

The IMMA initiative is a partnership between Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), the IUCN Joint SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and the Tethys Research Institute.

‘We have now surpassed 50% of the world ocean which has been considered for IMMA identification,’ said Erich Hoyt, WDC research fellow and co-chair of the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force.

‘We now have a total of 209 IMMAs which can be used as a tool in marine spatial planning and for conservation measures by governments, intergovernmental organisations, conservation groups, and the general public.’

Read more about why IMMAs are important here

 

Related News

Dolphins captured for captivity in Taiji. Image: Hans Peter Roth

Loved and killed – whales and dolphins in Japan

Protests and criticism from outside Japan in response to the slaughter of whales and dolphins have not only failed to stop the killing, but also...
Narwhal with beluga whales

Unusual Whale Adoptions

Kidzone - quick links Fun Facts Curious kids Blogs Fantastic fundraisers Gallery Splish and Splash Puzzles Whales and dolphins are truly special. A good example...
Irrawaddy dolphin

Helping fishers protect dolphins in Sarawak, Borneo

Fishing nets are bad news for dolphins and porpoises, so we're working with local fishers in Hong Kong and Sarawak, Borneo to save lives and...

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 wildlife when you visit the coast will help to raise...

Leave a Comment