How can we protect the environment where whales and dolphins live?
We are the leading UK environmental charity focusing on the conservation of whales and dolphins. The ocean plays a critical role in human health and the health of the planet, but we know that our activities are threatening whales and dolphins. We are also part of a coalition of 22 UK charities and organisations campaigning to protect and conserve our ocean.
With your help, we can create protected areas where whales and dolphins will thrive; we can tackle issues like pollution and plastics, noise and ship traffic.
We are facing an environmental disaster
In many places, the ocean has become a rubbish dump. Millions of tonnes of litter end up in the sea. As it breaks down, dangerous chemicals are released. Ships spill oil and toxic chemicals. And humans can be very noisy neighbours to whales and dolphins: shipping, oil and gas drilling, military sonar and wind farm construction create levels of underwater noise that interfere with whale and dolphin communication and drive them away from feeding grounds.
We have nature reserves on land, why not have conservation areas in the sea?
We live on Planet Ocean. A massive 70% of the Earth’s surface is water, yet just 5% of the ocean is protected from damaging human activities. We’re all familiar with reserves on land, which protect threatened species. But marine conservation is decades behind. It’s time to catch up. With your help, we can protect the areas that are important to whales and dolphins, so they can live long and healthy lives.
Donate and you'll be helping the environment
Whales and dolphins are at risk from human activities at sea. They need your help. Save them by getting involved today.
How your support can help
- Create protected areas – you can help us campaign for marine protected areas (MPAs) – nature reserves where whales and dolphins are safe from harmful activities.
- Research important places – so much is unknown about the places that are important to whales and dolphins – the places they gather to feed, breed, socialize and raise their young. You can support research to identify the best places to protect.
- Work with local communities and governments – many communities and countries depend on the sea. By supporting WDC, you can help us work with them to find ways to protect whales and dolphins.
- Fight plastic and pollution – we are working with people like you to show governments and companies that we can reduce pollution and live with less plastic.
Successes
Marine protected area created in Antarctica – thanks to WDC supporters like you, we successfully campaigned to create the world’s largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, covering 1.55 million square kilometres.
Marine protected area created in Bangladesh – with help from people like you, we supported the creation of the first marine protected area in the seas off Bangladesh.
Speed limit set for ships – WDC supporters helped us campaign for a law that limits the speed of ships along the east coast of the United States. This has reduced the threat of harmful or lethal collisions with North Atlantic right whales by 90%, though the population is still at great risk from entanglement in fishing gear.
Identifying Important Marine Mammal Areas, or IMMAs – Over the past two years WDC has helped sponsor expert workshops to identify whale and dolphin habitats in need of protection in the Mediterranean, Pacific Islands and the North East Indian Ocean and South East Asian seas.
Please help us create healthy seas
By adopting a whale or dolphin, by making a donation, or by fundraising for WDC, you can help us protect their ocean homes.
Adopt
Adopt a whale or dolphin and help us create marine nature reserves.
Donate
Your gifts help us take action to create protected areas where whales and dolphins can thrive.
Fundraise
Run, bake, walk, cycle… what could you do to help?