Posts Tagged ‘MPAs’
Dominica announces new protections for sperm whales
Dominica has placed almost 800 square kilometers of sea off the west coast of the country under protection specifically for sperm whales. This will be the world’s first marine sanctuary specifically for the species. Less than 500 individuals of the endangered sperm whale are believed to still live in the waters around the island. The…
Read MoreHuge protected area for whale and dolphins in African waters announced
Africa’s largest network of marine protected areas, has been announced by the central African nation of Gabon. Marine protected areas, or MPAs are stretches of ocean where harmful activities such as oil and gas exploration and certain types of fishing are restricted, or ships are required to slow down so they don’t hit whales. They…
Read MoreWelsh government halts flawed scallop dredging consultation after complaint
The Welsh government has now halted a public consultation process regarding controversial plans concerning a protected marine area in Cardigan Bay, home to many bottlenose dolphins. Government officials have blamed “technical issues” and have said that the process would have to restart at a later date. The move follows a call by WDC and partner organisations,…
Read MoreWDC’s Erich Hoyt to give keynote speech at Biodiversity Conference
Measuring and Monitoring Biodiversity Offshore A working conference exploring the need for offshore biodiversity data collection and the methodologies involved. Designed to be informative, stimulating and enjoyable, and to build a network of those involved in offshore activities. The Conference is being held on Thursday & Friday 19th and 20th March at the Marine Court…
Read MoreJourney to the Ross Sea #5
February 16th We have now been four days at sea and still have three to go until we reach Antarctica and the Ross Sea. Last night the weather took a turn for the worse and we were met with 60 knot winds gusting to 95. Some of the waves crashing over the bow were 14…
Read MoreLocation and size vital for whale and dolphin protection areas
WDC, together with more than 100 delegates from over 20 countries around the globe have been attending an international conference looking at protected sea areas for marine mammals like whales and dolphins. Around the globe, whale and dolphin populations are under threat and need places where they are protected. ‘Safe havens’ – effective marine protected areas…
Read MoreMarine Protected Areas doubled to tackle Scotland’s sealife declines
WDC has welcomed today’s decision by the Scottish government to double the number of areas it will protect in the seas around Scotland. In a bold move, Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead gave the go-ahead for 30 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as well as paving the way for urgent new protected areas for struggling populations…
Read MoreHow not to save a species!
Less than a week after the International Whaling Commission (IWC) urged the Government of New Zealand to do more to save the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin there has been a dramatic turn of events. Instead of establishing more protective measures to save this endemic species, the NZ Government have in fact opened up a potential…
Read MoreNew Australian Government Puts The World’s Largest MPA On Hold
The incoming Conservative Government has set aside previously agreed management plans and is instigating a review to determine future boundaries and acceptable activities. The Government has cited the reasons for its decision as a need for ‘genuine consultation with fishers and other stakeholders’. The Government has been caught hook, line and sinker by the commercial…
Read MoreA sense of porpoise…
About 15 years ago, WDC first called upon the UK government to put in place Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for harbour porpoises to fulfil their European responsibility to do so. Denmark, Germany and Northern Ireland, amongst other European countries, have all put SACs in place to protect porpoises in their national waters. The deadline…
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