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Gray whale

UN adopts High Seas Treaty to protect the ocean

At the UN 'High Seas Treaty' negotiations in New York, a historic vote for the...

Hopes raised for whale and dolphin protection after last minute landmark nature agreement

WDC's Ed Goodall (far right) at COP15 with Thérèse Coffey (centre) UK Secretary of State...

WDC orca champion picks up award

Beatrice Whishart MSP picks up her Nature Champion award The Scottish Environment LINK, an organisation...

Large number of dolphins moved to Abu Dhabi marine park

Up to 24 captive bottlenose dolphins have reportedly been sent to a new SeaWorld theme...

Trump Administration to authorise permits to allow seismic testing in endangered North Atlantic right whale habitat

The US government has announced that it will authorise five permit requests to conduct seismic testing along the US East coast, a year-round habitat for endangered North Atlantic right whales.  Seismic surveys are used to search for deposits of fossil fuels by emitting loud pulsing sounds every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day. This underwater noise pollution is known to harass, harm, and even kill whales and dolphins. 

Once abundant in the eastern and western North Atlantic, only an estimated 411 North Atlantic right whales survive along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada.  Since April of 2017, an unprecedented loss of 20 right whales from human impacts has drastically reduced the population, putting them at risk of extinction.  Both visual and acoustic data confirm that right whales use the mid-Atlantic region of the US year round to feed, socialize, and nurse calves.  Furthermore, research shows that man-made noise increases stress hormones in right whales which can impact their ability to reproduce and lower their immune systems. 

“North Atlantic right whales, a species already threatened by humans, are now being pushed closer to extinction, not only from loud and stressful seismic testing, but from the long term risk of future oil spills” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation.  The risk of oil spills has been an ongoing concern for east coast communities, more than 200 of which have openly opposed offshore drilling

Emerging research underscores the critical role North Atlantic right whales play in the ecosystem by supplying nutrients to phytoplankton, which produces most of the world’s oxygen, which fish depend on,. Impacts from potential oil spills are also significant. 

“Oil exploration along the US east coast is a short sighted and it’s not just whales who will pay the price, but everyone who relies on fishing, tourism, a coastal community, and a healthy planet” said Asmutis-Silvia. 

WDC IS FIGHTING TO SAVE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES.  DONATE AND HELP