Help us save dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico

The H2oover Environmental Foundation's SAVE THE BLUE initiative has joined with WDC in our efforts to fight for the protection and recovery of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico.

Why?

Dolphins in the Gulf face a variety of threats. Investigators are still trying to determine why hundreds of dolphins have stranded and died during the past few years for unexplained reasons. Unknown numbers of dolphins are also struggling to recover from the effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the chemicals used to disperse the oil in the area. In addition, harassment and violence against dolphins continues to occur in the region, where dolphins are being deliberately targeted and killed, and death and injury to dolphins from entanglement in fishing nets and gear is increasing.

In June 2012 a bottlenose dolphin was found fatally stabbed with a screwdriver to the head in Perdido Bay, Alabama, and investigations are also ongoing after two dolphins were killed by gunshot wounds in Louisiana and Mississippi, the 10th and 11th dolphins to have been shot since 2002.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) declared an ongoing unusually high mortality event (death of large numbers of dolphins for unexplained reasons) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from February 2010 through the present, just months after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy occurred and compounded these deadly effects. According to data from NMFS, as of November 2012, there are now over 800 dolphin strandings that have occurred in the Northern Gulf of Mexico since February 2010. These numbers are at historically unprecedented levels, where 95% of these dolphins have been found stranded dead. And the death toll continues to rise.

What are we doing?

WDC, with help from Save the Blue, have established an Enforcement Fund to support law enforcements agencies with their efforts to investigate and prosecute incidents like these in the Gulf which violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

How you can help

• You can help us protect dolphins in the Gulf and across the globe.

• Your donation will directly support our conservation efforts; by wearing our pendant, shirt, or scarf we hope to raise awareness of the threats facing dolphins, and engage people in making dolphin conservation issues an international priority.

Please donate now or purchase exclusive SAVE THE BLUE merchandise.