The biggest killer of whales and dolphins across the world is the fishing net. There is no ocean where this is not a serious issue.
We campaign to reduce and where possible eliminate the impact of destructive fishing practices. Our studies find out more about vulnerable whale, dolphin and porpoise populations and illustrate the impact that such fishing practices have on them. Vital if we are to expose and eliminate these threats.
In the North East Atlantic, particularly off the west coasts of France and the UK, thousands of dolphins die in fishing nets every year. We're campaigning to raise awareness of this crisis, pushing for compliance with the EU regulation already won to address the problem and pressing for stronger measures to protect dolphins and porpoises.
In the USA we are working with fishermen to reduce the impact of accidental entanglement of large whales, whilst in the depths of the Amazon and Indian subcontinent we have been working to educate fishermen to use non-lethal fishing techniques.
We want to take our work to all regions to address the biggest killer to whales, dolphins and porpoises around the world.
European Whales And Dolphin Need Your Help
In the battle for survival for the whales and dolphins of the North Atlantic and Baltic, WDCS is working through the ASCOBANS regional agreement to protect these remarkable creatures from the cumulative threats
2009-September-09
Join Our Campaign To End Whale And Dolphin Deaths In Fishing Nets
A new report by WDCS has revealed the shocking suffering caused by the entanglement of whales, dolphins and porpoises in fishing nets. Join our campaign to end the suffering and death of New Zealand's endangered Hector's and Maui's dolphins.
2008-December-15
Cetaceans And Pelagic Trawl Fisheries
The Western Approaches of the English Channel are intensively trawled by pelagic fisheries during the winter and early spring from October to May. These fishing activities coincide with relatively high levels of cetacean strandings.
2008-March-26
USA Fixed Gear Fisheries
Depleted by whaling last century, it is entanglement in fishing lines which, alongside vessel strikes, is primarily responsible for the decline of the north atlantic right whale today.
2008-February-20
Baltic And North Seas
The serious threats facing whales, dolphins and porpoises of the North East Atlantic, including the Baltic and North Seas, are many.
2008-February-20