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Fernando-Trujillo-3-scaled

Endangered river dolphins die in Amazon drought

Over 100 endangered pink river dolphins have died in an area of the Amazon over...
Fin whale

Short and cruel hunt season ends in Iceland

The shortened Icelandic fin whale hunts season has finished with a final total of 23...
This dead right whale calf had injuries consistent with a vessel strike, including fresh propeller cuts on its back and head, broken ribs, and bruising. Photo: FWC/Tucker Joenz, NOAA Fisheries permit #18786

Emergency Right Whale Petition Seeks Overdue Protections From Vessel Strikes

This dead right whale calf had injuries consistent with a vessel strike, including fresh propeller...
two-bottlenose-dolphins-breaching

Landmark report reveals UK wildlife’s devastating decline

With whales and dolphins already facing many threats, a landmark report released this week reveals...

UN adopts High Seas Treaty to protect the ocean

At the UN 'High Seas Treaty' negotiations in New York, a historic vote for the protection of the ocean took place at the weekend.

After two weeks of intensive talks, the UN member states have agreed on the final text of a High Seas Treaty.

Most of the world's oceans are international waters. These so-called 'high seas' areas lie beyond the exclusive economic zones of countries and are further than 370 kilometres (230 miles) from the nearest coast. Until now, the high seas have been a largely lawless, barely protected space.

In December 2022, the UN Conference on Biological Diversity in Montréal agreed that at least 30 per cent of the high seas should be protected by 2030. However, without a binding agreement to protect the high seas, the chances of implementation were poor.

'After almost 20 years, the United Nations has finally agreed on a high seas treaty. The importance of this agreement cannot be overstated, because without this decision it would be impossible to effectively implement the 30x30 targets,' explains Ed Goodall, who manages the Green Whale Programme at WDC.

The new agreement introduces environmental impact assessments for all activities on the high seas, as well as compensation for the use of marine resources. Member states also commit to extensive reporting, which will increase transparency and accountability of actions and compliance. The new agreement also stipulates that in future there will be an annual Conference of the Parties (COP) in which concrete measures for the protection and sustainable use of the high seas and the deep sea will be negotiated and decided.

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Short and cruel hunt season ends in Iceland

The shortened Icelandic fin whale hunts season has finished with a final total of 23 whales killed, 1 unborn calf killed and 1 whale lost....
This dead right whale calf had injuries consistent with a vessel strike, including fresh propeller cuts on its back and head, broken ribs, and bruising. Photo: FWC/Tucker Joenz, NOAA Fisheries permit #18786

Emergency Right Whale Petition Seeks Overdue Protections From Vessel Strikes

This dead right whale calf had injuries consistent with a vessel strike, including fresh propeller cuts on its back and head, broken ribs, and bruising....
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How we need to support Faroese communities to end the whale and dolphin hunts

Hayley Flanagan Hayley is WDC's engagement officer, specializing in creating brilliant content for our website and publications. VIEW ALL HAYLEY'S BLOGS Change is in the...