Whale & Dolphin Conservation

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society UK
http://www.wdcs.org.uk/

Killing whales for profit has been banned since 1986 -- but that's about to change unless we make a stand.

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) just released a new plan that would overturn the global ban on commercial whaling, and even open a whale sanctuary near Antarctica for hunting.

A final decision could happen as soon as next month, and Germany has a key role in the IWC's decision -- please write the German Federal Ministry for Agriculture and stop the sell out of the whales »

Japan, Norway and Iceland have continued to hunt whales in defiance of the worldwide commercial whaling ban. The proposed plan would make their hunts legal again.

A decision on the plan to resume killing whales could come as soon as next month!

Please take action to save the whales »

Thanks for making a difference!

Andrea W.
ThePetitionSite

Don't Resume Killing Whales Forward to a friend Read the petition
Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFwpa/zkuK/AQSk0

Whale and dolphin watching, news and sightings.

Whale watching has grown from nothing to a multi million dollar industry over the last 25 years. Amazingly, Australia only banned whaling in 1979, and now is one of the most vociferous anti-whaling countries.

Whale watching really started in the US, but is now a worldwide industry with nearly 100 countries encompassing all seven continents running some whale watch tourism. Ironically the three countries that still undertake whaling, Japan, Iceland and Norway (though Norway's 2006 whale hunt was 50% below expectations), all have burgeoning whale watching industries. The UK some has surprisingly good whale and dolphin watching, from orcas in the Shetlands, Minke whales all down the west coast and plenty of dolphins about, there are plenty of opportunities for whale watching around the UK.

Thankfully the whale watching industry has been a great driver in the protection of whales, and as the industry grows it can only be hoped that those countries who still do slaughter whales will see there is more value in live whales than dead ones.

However even a carefully managed whale watching industry has its drawbacks. In Hawaii there has recently been an increase in the number of whale watch boats colliding with whales, despite adhering to a strict code; and there is some evidence that the resident pods of Orca (I know, I know, they are dolphins really.) found between Seattle, Vancouver and Vancouver Island, are being adversely affected by the number of whale watching boats.

While there are no internationally recognised whale watch guidelines, most countries have their own strict rules.

WS

Some good news there WS - let's hope common sense prevails and the ban on commercial whaling isn't lifted.

Lai

International Court of Justice declares Japan’s Antarctic whaling illegal and orders it to stop immediately

http://uk.whales.org/news/2014/03/international-court-of-justice-declares-japans-antarctic-whaling-illegal-and-orders-it

This can only be good news.

Lai   

I'm not quite sure how I missed this post in the beginning....sorry for that WS

I heard this on the news the other day Lai, I think maybe Sunday or was it yesterday, anyway, its brilliant news and lets hope this will be the end to commercial whaling, it really does need to stop, so this is quite exciting news   

littlewid-x-