We are currently focusing on the following key areas to help save whales and dolphins.
STOP WHALING
END CAPTIVITY
CREATE HEALTHY SEAS
END DEATH IN NETS
Stop Whaling
Goal: To reduce numbers killed and the numbers of countries whaling.
A few of our successes in recent years:
- Stopped an illegal export of whale meat from Iceland to Japan
- Helped stop all attempts to re-start legal commercial whaling
- Stopped illegal trade of whale meat sold in Germany and Denmark
Some areas we are currently working on:
- Achieving culture change in Iceland and the Faroes: changing opinion and reducing consumption
- Continuing to build international, political, legal and economic pressure to end Japan’s whaling programme
- Continuing to use the International Whaling Commission and other high level agreements and forums to fight attempts to bring back commercial whaling
End Captivity
Goal: to reduce the numbers held in captivity and develop sanctuaries, or release programmes, for those held.
A few of our successes in recent years:
- Campaigned for holiday companies to stop selling trips to Seaworld and other aquaria; leading to the Virgin pledge for all aquaria to stop imports of wild caught whales and dolphins
- Blocked the import of beluga whales to the US
- Persuaded 40 major airlines, not to transport dolphins caught in Japanese dolphin hunts
Some areas we are currently working on:
- Opening sanctuaries and exploring opportunities to return ex-captive dolphins to the wild
- Phasing out dolphin captivity in Germany
- Persuading tour operators to break links with the captivity industry
Create Healthy seas
Goal: To protect whales and dolphins by protect more of the places where they live in national waters and on the high seas.
A few of our successes in recent years:
- Successfully lobbied the Scottish government to double the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) for whales and dolphins
- Successfully lobbied the US government to increase protective measures for right whales, including expanding protected habitat by 40,000 sq. miles.
- Helped Australia create the largest ever network of MPAs
Some areas we are currently working on:
- Designing and implementing Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) on the high seas
- Getting the New Zealand government to increase protection for endangered maui and hectors dolphins
- Building on our success protecting right whales in the US: enabling an increase in the population
Ending Bycatch - Stop Deaths in Fishing Gear
Goal: To reduce the number of whale and dolphins killed and injured through entanglement in fishing nets and gear.
This is a new programme for WDC. Some areas we are currently working on:
- Promoting responsible gear types and fishing practice in UK waters
- Reducing whale entanglements off the north-east coast of the US.
- Reducing bycatch in New Zealand