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Icelandic hunting vessels in port

Whaling boat kept in port after more hunt cruelty exposed

Icelandic whale hunting fleet One of the whaling boats involved in the latest hunts in...
Commerson's dolphin

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Fin whale shot with two harpoons

Whalers kill just days after Iceland’s hunt suspension is lifted

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Icelandic government lifts suspension on cruel hunts

The Icelandic government is to allow fin whales to be hunted again after lifting a...
All policy news
  • All policy news
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Prevent bycatch
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Stop whaling
  • Strandings

Whale culture should play a part in their conservation says new international study

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No change in Norway whaling quota as number of whales to be killed remains high

Norway’s Minister of Fisheries has announced that the country has set itself the same number...

Preparations for beluga whale move to Iceland continue

Ahead of the relocation of Little White and Little Grey to the world’s first open...
Photo taken by Sea to Shore Alliance under NOAA Permit #15488

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Norway’s whaling future uncertain after survey shows little domestic appetite for whale meat

The future of Norway’s whaling industry appears to be in serious doubt as it struggles...
nmfs_beluga_drone_laura_morse_afsc

Moving in the wrong direction: new application would bring belugas to US marine parks

Earlier this year, WDC celebrated the passage of a landmark law to ban whale and...

Financial worth of whales revealed

https://us.whales.org/2019/09/27/financial-worth-of-whales-revealed/
Two beautiful Hector's dolphins leap just off new Zealand's coast. © Mike Bossley

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Orcas are crammed together in sickening conditions

Russian Citizens Call For Action to Prevent Another Whale Jail

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Positive whaling news emerges from Iceland

News is emerging from Iceland that the company behind Iceland’s fin whale hunts, Hvalur hf,...

WDC funded research shows ‘pingers’ could save porpoises from fishing nets

Underwater sound devices called ‘pingers’ could be an effective, long-term way to prevent porpoises getting...

WDC scientists join call for global action to protect whales and dolphins from extinction

Scientists from Whale and Dolphin Conservation, along with over 250 other experts from 40 countries,...

Beluga Sanctuary Update – July 1st

Beluga whales - Little Grey and Little White

Update: 1st July 2020

We have been working to relocate belugas, Little Grey and Little White from their land-side care facilities to their sea sanctuary care pools at Klettsvik Bay this week. We had planned for Friday, July 3rd, however, our vets have confirmed that both Little Grey and Little White have a very mild bacterial stomach infection.

This was discovered as part of their planned final health assessments ahead of the move and verified yesterday, June 30th.

The positive news is that the infection is very mild and treatable. Unfortunately it will mean there will be a few weeks delay before Little Grey and Little White are able to take part in their relocation to the bay while they finish their treatment.

Little Grey and Little White continue to feed well and are behaving and interacting as usual with their expert care team.

While this is incredibly disappointing for the expert care team in Iceland and our wider supporting team who have worked tirelessly in preparation for the move and had everything ready for this week, we ultimately have to always do what is right for Little Grey and Little White. Their health and well-being continue to be our top priority and therefore we will always do what is right for them.

This first step is the ‘logistical stage’ of the two-stage process that will see the belugas released into the main sanctuary in the bay. Once they have been moved to the sea sanctuary care area, Little Grey and Little White will need a short period to acclimate to their new natural environment and all the outdoor elements.

We want to thank everyone for your continued support and understanding. Keep a look out for a further update on in the next few weeks.

As well as helping to establish the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland with The SEA LIFE Trust , WDC is also working in partnership with other sanctuary projects. We hope that these initiatives will encourage the rehabilitation of more captive whales and dolphins into natural environments around the world, and one day help to bring an end to whale and dolphin entertainment shows.

We are excited for Little Grey and Little White to be in their new sanctuary home! Sea sanctuaries are an important step in ending captivity.

If you believe in ending captivity, please help us continue this important work.

Another way to help is by sharing this on social media!

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