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Norwegian whalers turn their sights on humpback and fin whales

Norwegian whalers turn their sights on humpback and fin whales

Members of the Vestvågøy Fisheries Association, in the Lofoten district of Norway, are demanding a review of whether fin and humpback whales should be hunted in local waters, citing increased numbers of these species in the waters around Bjørnøya and Bjørnøya-Hopen. They speculate that declining seabird numbers could be due to whales competing with seabirds for fish,…

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Are humpback whales saving seals from orca attacks?

It appears that we humans may not be the only ones that care about the welfare of others creatures. Global data being analysed by scientists seems to suggest that humpback whales are making a conscious effort to rescue other species, like seals, from attacks by orcas. Although more scientific study needs to be done, there are…

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Claiming Success Too Soon Could Result in Serious Failure

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has claimed the endangered species act (ESA) a success for humpback whales worldwide; I too agree that the ESA has provided humpbacks the protection they needed after nearly being decimated by commercial whaling, but the story isn’t all that simple. A delisting at this time would be premature and humpback whales are now facing a whole new…

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Rare white whale spotted in New Zealand

A rare white (albino) humpback whale has been spotted off the coast of New Zealand. The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC) whale survey sighted the whale, thought to be one of just four in the world, in Cook Strait, between the North and South Islands. It is thought that the whale may be Migaloo,…

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In Loving Memory – Spinnaker

  R.I.P. Spinnaker, 2004 – 2015 Born in the warm waters of the West Indies during the winter of 2004, Spinnaker spent her first year of life by her mother’s side.  Having survived the 1500 mile swim to her summer home in the Gulf of Maine, Spinnaker quickly learned how and where to find food…

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Orca Watch in Scotland

For the past few days, as part of its Shorewatch programme, WDC has been participating in the annual Orca Watch in Caithness in the very north of Scotland. The event is run at this time of year to coincide with peak sightings of orcas that visit the Caithness coastline and the Northern Isles of Shetland…

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Rare humpback whale spotted in English Channel

A humpback whale, believed to be young, has been spotted in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes in the English Channel. The sighting is so unusual that fears have grown concerning the whale’s health or potential to strand on the shore. The humpback whale is one of the most energetic of the large whales…

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Possible illegal Humpback hunt in Haiti reported

Reports have come into WDC regarding an incident in Haiti involving a humpback whale.  It appears that a small humpback whale in poor health has been harpooned by local fishermen in north Haiti near Fort Liberte, approximately 9 km west of the border with the Dominican Republic.  The disoriented whale entered the shallow bay at…

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