Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching

Dominica announces new protections for sperm whales

Dominica has placed almost 800 square kilometers of sea off the west coast of the...
Commerson's dolphin

New Important Marine Mammal Areas added to global ocean conservation list

Commerson's dolphin Experts from a number of countries have mapped out a new set of...
Vaquita. Photo Thomas Jefferson

Scientific Committee gives first ever official species extinction warning

Photo: Thomas Jefferson We have welcomed the urgent call by experts to protect the vaquita...
blue whale

Whale fossil from Peru may have been heavier than blue whale

Scientists examining the bones of a 39 million-year-old ancient whale have concluded that it may...

Newer sonar technology still a threat to whales

A magical sperm whale encounter

A study into the effects of underwater sonar has revealed that newer technology is as disruptive to whales as sonar used by the military.

Researchers at St Andrews University in Scotland, led by Professor Patrick Miller, compared experiments on continuous sonar near Norway undertaken previously with new data from the new, continuous sonar.

Continuous sonar pulses are transmitted at lower level and spread out over longer duration. It had been suggested that this newer technology might less disruptive for whales. But the impact of the two sonar systems on feeding behaviour of the sperm whales that they observed was similar. The whales stopped foraging for food no matter which type of sonar was used.

Underwater noise pollution from the military, oil and gas exploration is a threat to whales and dolphins because they live in a world of sound and rely on it for catching prey, communicating and navigation. Any human noise in the water can have a serious effect on whales and dolphins and can cause death.

See how WDC works to create healthy seas for whales and dolphins

DONATE NOW TO HELP US PROTECT THESE AMAZING CREATURES

Leave a Comment