WDCS in the Antarctic

Like the Arctic, this region represents one of the areas likely to face the most acute effects of climate change. In addition whales are still hunted by scientific whaling fleets. The international fishing industry is known to be expanding their krill harvest for aquaculture feed and science, further depleting this critical food source. Noise pollution, chemical pollution and marine debris are also threats to whales and dolphins in the southern ocean.

WDCS research and conservation in the region focuses on understanding whale distribution using Southern Ocean tourist vessels as platforms of opportunity for long and short term population monitoring of minke, fin, humpback and other whale and dolphin populations.

WDCS's historical contribution to this region has included conservation projects to protect:

• Minke whale;
• Fin whale;
• Humpback whale; and
• Southern right whale off the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands in New Zealand.

Issues WDCS is currently working on in this region:

Whaling
WDCS Species Programme

Stop Bloody Whaling A new threat to the world-wide ban on commercial whaling is looming. For years, Japan, Norway and Iceland have tried to overturn the moratorium on commercial whaling that was imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986. 2008-February-20