Skip to content
All articles
  • All articles
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
Fishers' involvement is crucial. Image: WDC/JTF

When porpoises and people overlap

We're funding a project in Hong Kong that's working with fishing communities to help save...

Mindful conservation – why we need a new respect for nature

'We should look at whales and dolphins as the indigenous people of the seas -...
A dolphin called Arnie with a shell

Dolphins catch fish using giant shell tools

In Shark Bay, Australia, two groups of dolphins have figured out how to use tools...
Common dolphins at surface

Did you know that dolphins have unique personalities?

We all have personalities, and between the work Christmas party and your family get-together, perhaps...
Leaping harbour porpoise

The power of harbour porpoise poo

We know we need to save the whale to save the world. Now we are...
Holly. Image: Miray Campbell

Meet Holly, she’s an incredible orca leader

Let me tell you the story of an awe-inspiring orca with a fascinating family story...
Humpback whale. Image: Christopher Swann

A story about whales and humans

As well as working for WDC, I write books for young people. Stories; about the...
Risso's dolphin at surface

My lucky number – 13 years studying amazing Risso’s dolphins

Everything we learn about the Risso's dolphins off the coast of Scotland amazes us and...

WDC helps secure another victory for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales!

Today, the U.S. District Court D.C issued a finding in favor of right whalesBased on their decision, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the US agency charged with protecting right whales, must acknowledge and thoroughly evaluate the impacts to right whales from the proposed development of an offshore wind farm in right whale habitat. 

Last June, WDC submitted an amicus brief in support of a legal challenge put forward by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, et al. in response to the proposed development.  While we are not opposed to alternative energy, we are concerned, as we point out in our recent report, that its development and operation must not harm whales and dolphins. 

The sizable project in question would involve the operation of 130 Wind Turbines on a 46 square mile section of ocean off Cape Cod.  The construction, operation, and maintenance of the project would also result in increased vessel traffic transiting to and from the project site, in areas where endangered North Atlantic right whales are known to occur.

The National Marine Fisheries Service had initially dismissed the increased sightings of right whales in this area as “visitors” to the habitat and did not demand any specific mitigation actions of the developers to reduce ship strikes. With fewer than 500 North Atlantic right whales remaining, the risk to even one whale, is too significant to ignore. 

WDC is thrilled with the decision of the court, ensuring that the US Endangered Species Act must be adhered to, and honored to be part of this landmark win!!  

As always, thank you for your support which enables us to work on behalf of whales and dolphins around the world.