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Our climate report highlights dramatic impacts on whales and dolphins

A new WDC report highlights the dramatic effect on whales and dolphins from climate change,...
© 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,...

Vancouver bans whales and dolphins in captivity at aquarium

Whales and dolphins will no longer be able to be held in captivity at the Vancouver Aquarium after the city’s Park Board agreed on Monday to ban bringing in new cetaceans. The ban includes injured or rescued whales and dolphins. 

The aquarium is located in Vancouver’s Stanley Park which is run by the Board. It currently holds a false killer whale, pacific white-sided dolphin and a harbour porpoise which can remain there but no longer appear in performances.

There has been a long-running debate over whether the aquarium should continue to keep captive whales and dolphins which came to a head in November after the sudden death of two beluga whales, a mother and calf, caused by a toxin whose origin could not be determined. The aquarium had been hoping to extend its beluga exhibit and bring more whales before phasing it out in 2029. 

The aquarium has said it will fight the latest decision. It can still treat wildlife at its rescue centre, which is not located on Park Board land.