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We're at COP28 to Save the Whale, Save the World.

We’re at COP28 to save the whale, save the world

Ed Goodall Ed is WDC's head of intergovernmental engagement. He meets with world leaders to...
Gray whales from drone.

We’re taking steps to uncover the mysteries of whales

Vicki James Vicki is WDC's protected areas coordinator, she helps to create safe ocean spaces...
We must protect our non-human allies. Image: Tom Brakefield, aurore murguet, johan63

We’re urging governments to protect all of our climate heroes – CITES

Katie Hunter Katie supports WDC's engagement in intergovernmental conversations and is working to end captivity...
The Natütama Foundation are dedicated to protecting endangered river dolphins. Image: Natutama

Guardians of the Amazon: protecting the endangered river dolphins

Ali Wood Ali is WDC's education projects coordinator. She is the editor of Splash! and KIDZONE,...
Amazon river dolphins. Image: Fernando Trujillo/Fundacion Omacha

Amazon tragedy as endangered river dolphins die in hot water

Ali Wood Ali is WDC's education projects coordinator. She is the editor of Splash! and KIDZONE,...
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin © Mike Bossley/WDC

WDC in Japan – Part 3: Restoring freedom to dolphins in South Korea

Katrin Matthes Katrin is WDC's communications and campaigns officer for policy & communication in Germany...
Wintery scene in Iceland

Seeking sanctuary – Iceland’s complex relationship with whales

Hayley Flanagan Hayley is WDC's engagement officer, specialising in creating brilliant content for our website...
Whaling ship Hvalur 8 arrives at the whaling station with two fin whales

A summer of hope and heartbreak for whales in Icelandic waters

Luke McMillan Luke is WDC's Head of hunting and captivity. Now that the 2023 whaling season...

Congratulations to Hapag Lloyd, a shipping company that puts ethics before profits!

 Whale meat

At a time when headlines are made as hundreds of tonnes of whale meat are shipped across the globe, and friendly lions killed for fun by wealthy trophy hunters, it is refreshing to be able to report on a company which still believes that ethics deserve a look-in!  

Congratulations, then, to shipping company, Hapag Lloyd, for compiling a list of products that they won’t allow on board. Importantly, their blacklist includes species or products which, in the company’s view “deserve to be safeguarded even if they aren’t yet protected by international laws.”

Their ‘no-go’ list therefore includes whale and dolphin meat and products, as well as shark fin, sealskins and hunting trophies such as lions or other large animals.

And Hapag-Lloyd goes even further: recognizing that customers sometimes make false declarations when registering their cargo, the company uses special software to scan documents and raise red flags when hazardous or banned materials are suspected.

Back in July 2013, we reported that two other shipping companies, Evergreen Line and Samskip, had vowed never to carry whale meat again following a massive public outcry which saw fin whale meat returned to Iceland. 

My hope of course, is that all companies transporting live animals, or meat or products from protected species, will adopt the same stance and refuse to carry cargo that conflicts with their ethical values.

Support our campaign to stop whale products transiting European ports