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Meet the 2023 Interns: Thomas Zoutis

I'm happy to introduce WDC's first Marine Mammal Conservation Intern of the year, Thomas Zoutis!...
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Double Your Impact for Marine Animal Rescue & Response

On a chilly day this past December, the WDC North America team celebrated the first...
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WDC’s Education Wishlist = Cleared!

To the WDC Community, I want to thank you so much for your support of...
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Looking forward for Southern Resident orcas in 2023

Hysazu Photography 2022 was a big year for Southern Resident orcas - 2022 brought the...
Credit: Seacoast Science Center

The Unlikely Adventure of Shoebert, a Young Grey Seal Who Visited an Industrial Park Pond

Credit: Seacoast Science Center In mid-September, our stranding partners in northern Massachusetts were inundated with...
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The power of harbour porpoise poo

We know we need to save the whale to save the world. Now we are...
Right whale - Regina WDC

Whale and Dolphin Conservation: Change Through Policy.

WDC focuses on education, research, conservation projects, and policy work to create a sustainable future...
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Clear WDC’s Amazon Wishlist for Giving Tuesday

UPDATE: We are thrilled to report that everything was donated off of our Amazon Wishlist...

A Major Win for Right Whales

In the North American office of WDC, we have spent the last year focused on The Act Right Now campaign, the goal of which was to ensure federal protections for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.  Specifically, the Federal Ship Strike Rule (which was established in 2008 and requires large ships to slow down in the known habitats of right whales), which was set to expire this coming Monday (December 9th ).  Research showed that in the 5 years since it was enacted, this rule was key in reducing the number of right whales killed from vessel strikes by up to 90%.  For a species on the brink of extinction, this rule was a glimmer of hope; an opportunity for the population to grow and survive for future generations.  We couldn’t let that rule expire and risk losing the right whale forever. At least, not without a fight. 

So we called on all of our supporters, our cities and towns, friends and partnering organizations to help join this fight. Through Act Right Now, WDC submitted more than half of the 145,000 comments received, asking the National Marine Fisheries Service to extend this rule indefinitely. 

Today we are elated to announce that all our this work has paid off! The Ship Strike Rule has been extended- and this time, there is no further sunset clause.  Right whales can look forward to the protection of this regulation until their numbers are plentiful and their species no longer require such protections.

We are thrilled that policy makers have come to defense of the North Atlantic right whale and have acted to protect this critically endangered species.  The extension of the Ship Strike Rule speaks to our nation’s priorities and values and I am prouder today to be an American citizen.

Thanks to all of the people who joined the campaign – either through a signature, a donation, a comment submitted to NOAA or just talking about this issue with friends and family- today we can celebrate the survival of the North Atlantic right whale!

CLICK HERE to read the news story