UN adopts High Seas Treaty to protect the ocean
At the UN ‘High Seas Treaty’ negotiations in New York, a historic vote for the protection of the ocean took place at the weekend. After two weeks of intensive talks, the UN member states have agreed on the final text of a High Seas Treaty. Most of the world’s oceans are international waters. These so-called…
Read MoreHopes 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 for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nations from around the world have agreed to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 in a landmark deal aimed at safeguarding biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to all the Earth’s living things…
Read MoreWDC orca champion picks up award
Beatrice Whishart MSP picks up her Nature Champion award The Scottish Environment LINK, an organisation that brings together groups in Scotland to protect and enhance wildlife, landscape and the marine environment, has announced its MSP Nature Champion of the Year. The award has been shared this year by Jenni Minto is the MSP Nature Champion…
Read MoreSuccess! Removal of last river dams to help threatened orcas in the US
Great news has emerged from the US concerning our work to protect the endangered orca population known as the Southern Residents. The Southern Resident orcas of the Pacific Northwest is a group of just over 70 individuals, the only orca population listed as endangered in the US and, after decades of campaigning work by tribes, conservation…
Read MoreMy 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 helps us argue for their protection. Every time I step onto these islands, I have a feeling of excited anticipation about what this Risso’s research field season is going to bring. WDC started our Isle of Lewis (and Harris) project…
Read MoreMore important ocean areas for whales and dolphin protection identified
Scientists and observers from many different countries have identified and mapped 36 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs), from northern Mexico to the southern tip of Chile. IMMAs are essentially portions of ocean important to marine mammal species that have the potential to be set aside for conservation management. The addition of the latest 36…
Read MorePopular humpback whale is killed by passing ship
A humpback whale popular with whale watchers in waters off California and Mexico has died after being struck by a passing ship. Known as Fran, the 50-foot whale was found washed up on the shore in Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco earlier this week, and her death now raises concerns for the survival…
Read MoreElusive whale seen alive for the first time
Using DNA evidence, scientists have been able to officially confirm the first live sightings of the Sato’s beaked whale. Up to now the only Sato’s whales seen have been the few that have washed up dead and some unconfirmed reports from whale hunters. As a result, we know very little about their lives, habits, where…
Read More50-Year Vision launched to save whales and dolphins from extinction
WDC has joined the world’s leading wildlife protection and conservation organisations urging the 88 member countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC – the body that regulates whaling) to adopt a new 50-Year Vision to save whales, dolphins and porpoises from extinction in the face of increasing ocean threats. The vision document has been launched…
Read MoreSuccess! Court stops US government attempt to block whale protection lawsuit
A federal court in the US has dismissed attempts by Joe Biden’s administration to halt a lawsuit against the government filed by WDC and other groups, which seeks to create stronger rules to protect rare North Atlantic right whales from collisions with ships. Together with Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society of the US, Center for Biological Diversity…
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