Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent bycatch
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Science
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
WDC2023-007 NMLC Release (16)

Seal Rescued in Marshfield Released Back Into The Wild

For Immediate Release, May 31, 2023 PLYMOUTH, MA - A young male grey seal that...

Norway ups whale kill numbers and removes whale welfare protections

The whaling season in Norway has begun on the back of disturbing announcements from the...
Image taken from an unmanned hexacopter at >100ft during a research collaboration between NOAA/SWFSC, SR3 and the Coastal Ocean Research Institute. Research authorized by NMFS permit #19091.

Southern Resident orca petition to list them under Oregon Endangered Species Act advanced

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect...
Hysazu Photography

WDC and Conservation Partners Continue to Seek Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas

On Friday, April 21st, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will determine whether the petition...

Norwegian whaling season in full swing

Lofotposten is reporting that as of this week, all 18 Norwegian whaling vessels that are registered to hunt this year are now actively catching whales, and some 180 minkes have been taken to date. 

It appears that 84 whales were taken last week alone, 30 more than in the same time period the previous year. Thirty were taken in eastern Finnmark, thirty at Spitsbergen and the remainder off Lofoten 
and Smøla. 

At this point last year, 118 minke whales had been killed, according to Per Rolandsen of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organization (Råfisklaget).

Råfisklaget also claim that sales are also doing well, as, “whale meat is of the best quality this time of year”.

Yet despte the optimism of the Råfisklaget it seems that the Norwegian whaling industry is still not able to sell all its whale meat through the whole season, and are now having to target youth and celebrities to reinvigorate their flagging industry.

Some 19 fishing/whaling boats took part in the 2011 hunt, down from 33 in 2001, and only 18 vessels in 2013.

You can read more about Norwegian whaling