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

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...
WDC Seal Rescue April 2023 (1)

WDC conducts milestone seal rescue in Marshfield

For Immediate Release, April 10, 2023 MARSHFIELD, MA - A young grey seal was found...

Spate of porpoise deaths in Germany

While it was the strandings of their much larger relative, the sperm whale, that gained media attention in Germany recently, there have also been several harbour porpoises suffering a similar fate in recent months.

In February, an 18 month old male was found on the Baltic coast at Eckernförder. Porpoises in the Baltic are critically endangered and face an uncertain future. The bodies of two young porpoises were then found in March, both appear to have suffered injuries from boat propellers.

Later on in the month a female porpoise stranded at Hooksiel in Wilhelmshafen. Despite the best efforts of her rescuers she later died. More recently, concerns have been raised over a porpoise sighted in Oldenburg in the river Hunte. The porpoise is some way inland and the hope is it will find its way back to the river Weser and out to sea.

WDC is campaigning for stronger protection for harbour porpoises in Germany. Underwater noise, fisheries, pollution and ship traffic all pose significant risks to their long-term survival. 

Dead harbour porpoise in Hamburg