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
© New England Aquarium and Canadian Whale Institute under DFO Canada SARA permit

Scientists unveil new names for 19 North Atlantic right whales

December 6, 2023 - Contact: Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, (508) 451-3853, [email protected] Pam...
© Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by United States Army Corps of Engineers

Birth announcement! First right whale calf of the 2024 calving season spotted

November 29, 2023 - On November 28th, researchers from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute...
© Peter Flood

Two New England-based nonprofits awarded nearly $400k federal grant

© Peter Flood November 20, 2023 - Contact: Jake O'Neill, Conservation Law Foundation, (617) 850-1709,...
Right whale - Regina WDC

North Atlantic right whale population has stabilized

WDC attends Ropeless Consortium and North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium WDC was in Canada this...

Victory for harbour porpoise protection in Scotland

A new conservation area has been set up in waters off the west of Scotland to help protect the harbour porpoise.

One of the smallest creatures in the ‘whale and dolphin family’, WDC has been campaigning to get protection for the porpoise for many years because their numbers have been falling due to issues with catching food and breeding.

Earlier in the year we asked the public to express their opinion on plans by the governments in England, Wales, N Ireland and Scotland to create six special areas in the UK where the harbour porpoise could be protected from dangers like fishing nets and pollution. 

So, after nearly 9,000 of you responded to our campaign, we are delighted to report that one of these areas (around the Inner Hebrides and Minches) in Scotland will now be created, and will be the largest conservation area for the harbour porpoise in Europe.

We now hope that the Welsh, English/N. Irish governments will follow Scotland’s lead and create protected areas for the harbour porpoise in the Irish, Celtic and North seas.