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Orca Lulu's body contained PCB levels 100x above the safe limit. Image: SMASS

Toxic tides, troubled whales: the toll of chemical pollution

In last week's blog, we examined the challenges whales and dolphins face as they travel...
Group of orcas at surface

Breaking barriers for whales and dolphins at the Convention of Migratory Species

Many species of whales, dolphins and porpoises undertake long journeys, encountering human-made obstacles along the...
Tokyo

WDC in Japan – Part 1: Finding allies in Tokyo

At the end of May, I embarked on an incredible journey to Japan on behalf...
Amazon river dolphins leaping

The state of river dolphin conservation

At Whale and Dolphin Conservation, we partner with conservationists and communities fighting to save river...
Researchers in Southeast Alaska studying whale poo

We’re funding crucial research on whale poo to combat the climate crisis

The ocean is one of the lungs of our planet, and whales help it to...
Narwhal surfacing

The unicorns of the sea must be protected – CITES

The narwhal, is under threat. Often referred to as the unicorns of the sea, narwhals,...
Sperm whales

We’re pushing governments for action for our climate heroes – whales

The climate crisis is the greatest threat to all life on Earth. But there is...
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...

See you in court. WDC takes legal action against US government

WDC and its conservation partners filed a suit in US federal court today challenging the US government’s five year delay in designating additional Critical Habitat for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.  Fewer than 500 North Atlantic right whales remain and their survival is threatened by vessel strikes, entanglements in fishing gear, and habitat degradation. 

In 2009, WDC, in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States and Ocean Conservancy petitioned the US government to increase federally designated Critical Habitat for right whales.  After receiving no initial response to the request, the groups filed legal action in court demanding the National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency charged with protecting right whales, consider the merits of the petition.  In 2010, the Service indicated that the petition was warranted and Critical Habitat should be increased for the species.  However, they have taken no further action to do so.