Tens of thousands of dolphins and whales are slaughtered every year.
WDCS is at the forefront of efforts to end commercial whaling for good; to stop the needless and cruel slaughter of small whales and dolphins for commercial purposes; and to end trade in their meat and other products.
Commercial whaling is cruel, unnecessary and unsustainable. Yet, in defiance of an international ban on commercial whaling, Japan, Norway and Japan continue to kill whales for commercial purposes. As pro-whaling countries step-up their campaign for a full-scale resumption of commercial whaling, we have a dedicated team working to counter their arguments. Much of our work takes place behind the scenes. We arm governments with the legal and scientific arguments they need to tackle attempts to justify ever increasing hunts at diplomatic and government levels and at critical international meetings.
Every year tens of thousands of small whales and dolphins are slaughtered around the world. In Japan, in shockingly cruel drive hunts, dolphins and small whales are driven into shallow bays and slaughtered with knives every year. Some dolphins are slaughtered for their meat and now, increasingly the aquarium industry pays larger sums for dolphins captured alive. We research and document these hunts, exposing the link between drive hunts and the captivity industry and highlighting the terrible suffering endured by dolphins captured and killed.
Greenland Defies IWC Rules By Authorizing Humpback Whaling Before Hunt Is Legal
Announcement to allow hunt of nine humpback whales to start immediately puts Greenland in breach of IWC regulations
2010-August-23
Is The Fish You Buy Supplied By Icelandic Whalers?
Iceland’s whaling and fishing industries are inextricably linked. Help us send a message to the Icelandic government that the public does not want to eat fish supplied by companies linked to whaling.
2010-August-09
Iceland Told By European Parliament To Stop Whaling To Join The EU
The European Parliament has called on Iceland to stop whaling as one of the conditions of its membership of the EU.
2010-July-09
Al Jazeera Special: Inside Story – The Future Of Whales
As well as covering the background of whaling in the current climate, this feature includes a very lively debate between WDCS and representatives of the whaling nations!
2010-June-29
IWC Meeting Ends With Highs And Lows For Whales
The moratorium survives its greatest attack yet, but delegates make humpbacks pay the price.
2010-June-25
Whaling Ban Stays In Place!
After two days of closed-door discussions by delegates at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, the moratorium (ban) still stands but Japan, Iceland and Norway may continue to whale outside of the sanction of the IWC.
2010-June-24
School Children Deliver Clear Message To EU - Please Stop Whaling!
A mass postcard petition against the return of commercial whaling has been hand-delivered to the EU Commissioner for the Environment today, 22nd June, 11:30hrs.
2010-June-23
Whaling Ban Stays In Place
Our thanks to all of you for helping ensure that the moratorium (ban) still stands and commercial whaling is not endorsed at this year's IWC.
2010-June-23
Whaling Conference Starts Amidst Scandal, Corruption And Secrecy
WDCS Press Statement: The now secret meeting is discussing the highly controversial proposal to resume commercial whaling behind closed doors.
2010-June-21
WDCSs Niki Entrup On The BBC Radio 4 Today Programme
Niki Entrup explains why the deal is not good for whales on the BBC Radio 4 Today show.
2010-June-21
USA And New Zealand Pushing To Reward Whaling Outlaws
Today, Mon. 21st June, heralds the start of one of the most significant and potentially controversial weeks that conservationists may see for some time to come, when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) votes on the fate of the 24 year whaling ban.
2010-June-21
Special WDCS Radio Show On The Whaling ‘deal’ Direct From Agadir
In this WDCS Radio show we interview WDCS’s Nicolas Entrup, direct from the Agadir meeting about what politics are in play and how our elected officials are representing all of us.
2010-June-20
Marine Experts Bring A Petition To The IWC
Over 200 marine scientists and other experts, many of them highly distinguished and from over 40 countries around the world, have sent a petition to the International Whaling Commission urging that the ban on commercial whaling remains in place
2010-June-17
Reinventing The Whale
A new report by WDCS released today reveals the real reason behind the whaling nations desire to lift the whaling moratorium – they have long-term plans to develop new commercial applications for whale oil including in pharmaceuticals and animal feed.
2010-June-15
WDCS Radio Explains The Whaling Deal
WDCS’ own Sue Fisher and Niki Entrup explain what the Governments will be negotiating at the whaling meeting; reminding us that these same Governments are elected by, and must represent, you and me.
2010-June-12
No More Myths: Graphs Reveal The Truth About Commercial Whaling
WDCS, AWI and HSI have launched an animated online-tool that shows the total number of whales killed since 1946, the enormous success of the international ban on commercial whaling and continued whaling activities by Iceland, Norway and Japan.
2010-June-10
WDCS Calls On US President Obama To Protect Whales
WDCS, is standing shoulder to shoulder with its colleagues in the US animal welfare and conservation community in opposing the deal to save whaling not whales that is currently before the IWC.
2010-June-02
Australia Takes Japan To Court
In an official press statement earlier today (May 28th), the Australian Government has announced legal action against Japanese whaling at the International Court of Justice.
2010-May-28
WDCS Map Of Current And Potential IWC Whaling
A interactive Google map of current and potential IWC whaling.
2010-May-05
Will EU Voting Process Hasten Commercial Whaling
At two recent international environmental meetings (CITES and IWC) held in March 2010 confusion about EU voting procedures resulted in EU Member States being unable to vote in favour of strong conservation measures for endangered species.
2010-April-30
About Our Campaign
WDCS is working with partner organisation Sea Life on a petition against the return of commercial whaling. Public opinion is vital. We have over 100,000 signatures already, but we need YOURS!
2010-April-27
What Is WDCS Doing About Whaling?
With whales dying and such a concerted effort from the whalers for their activities to be legalized, and accepted, it is understandable that people sometimes ask, 'what can we do?' or, 'what is WDCS doing about this?'
2010-April-27
WDCS Analysis Of IWC Proposal To Resume Whaling
A revised proposal for the Future of the IWC, published by the IWC on 22 April, and intended to be voted on at the annual meeting in June 2010, does little to address the concerns raised by WDCS and other critics of an earlier version.
2010-April-23
The Plan To Save Whaling, Not Whales
On Thursday, 22 April, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will publish a proposal that will, if adopted by the parties at its annual meeting in June, suspend the longstanding ban on commercial whaling and legitimise commercial hunts by Norway, Ice
2010-April-21
Whaling Deal Spin
WDCS is watching a worrying spin on current moves to resume commercial whaling that seems to be emanating from the US government and others in favour of the deal.
2010-April-16
Australian And New Zealand Tax Payers To Fund Commercial Whaling
News Release: If an IWC proposal to allow a resumption of commercial whaling goes ahead, taxpayers will foot the bill.
2010-April-12
A Good Deal For Whalers And A Poor Deal For Whales
In today's (April 8th) New Scientist magazine, two experts from WDCS deliver an important critique of the increasingly controversial proposal to be put to the vote at the next International Whaling Commission meeting in June.
2010-April-08
Iceland Exports Whale Products To The EU
Investigations by WDCS and IFAW reveals that Iceland has been attempting to export whale products to the EU.
2010-March-18
Humpbacks Get Stay Of Execution - But For How Long?
Humpbacks on death row get ‘stay of execution’ for next few weeks after Florida IWC meeting ends without a decision.
2010-March-04
IWC Meeting Ends, And Commercial Whaling Moves Closer
Members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) met this week, to discuss a proposal to see a resumption in commercial whaling in preparation for its annual Meeting in June 2010.
2010-March-01
Failings Revealed In Greenland Whaling
A rift between countries continues to widened at a special meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Florida , where a controversial decision on resuming humpback whale hunts off Greenland failed to be adopted.
2010-February-24
Norwegian Minke Whaling: A Memoir
What does history have to tell us about 'deals to fix whaling'? In the first of an occasional series of expert commentaries from WDCS, Dr. Sidney Holt reminds us that understanding the past is necessary if we want to avoid making the same mistakes.
2010-February-21
New Japanese Government Urged To Ban Poisonous Whale And Dolphin Products
WDCS is part of a coalition of international organizations that are calling on the new Japanese goverment to ban the sale of contaminated whale, dolphin and porpoise products for human consumption.
2009-November-24
Whale Hunting In The Faroe Islands
Every year in the Faroe Islands, a territory of Denmark, hundreds of pilot whales and other species including bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins and bottlenose whales, are hunted for their meat. The techniques used are intensely stressful
2009-November-24
Japanese Fleet Sets Sail For Antarctica
Less than a week after a visit to Japan by US President Obama, the Japanese whaling fleet has set sail for Antarctica.
2009-November-19
Latin American NGOs Speak Out Against Whaling
Alongside the negotiations for a “compromise” within the negotiations about the Future of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) 40 environmental NGOs jointly presented a petition to all Latin governments Member of the IWC.
2009-November-18
A Tale Of Two Meetings
Two important meetings are taking place this winter; both with significant implications for whales.
2009-November-10
The Politics Of Whaling Verses Food Safety
Back in the mid 1990s, WDCS was looking at how we could help move the whaling debate forward and we decided to focus some efforts on the issue of food security.
2009-October-31
South Park And Whaling
It seems that even cartoon characters have something to say about whaling and the Japanese drive hunts.
2009-October-29
Please Help Us Stop Iceland Whaling
WDCS is leading a letter writing campaign by animal welfare and conservation groups who collectively represent millions of European citizens – to put pressure on each member state and the EU Commission itself, to stop Iceland’s whaling.
2009-September-30
Iceland - Stop Whaling Now
Iceland has killed more than 150 whales since May of 2009, including at least 93 endangered fin whales. We urgently need your help to stop this.
2009-September-04
IWC61 - Some Closing Thoughts
WDCS is disappointed that Norwegian and Iceland whaling has not even been addressed at this year's annual meeting of the IWC, as well as no action has been taken to strongly condemn the ongoing trade in whale meat.
2009-June-25
Norway And Japan Prop Up Whaling Industry With Taxpayer Money
The governments of Norway and Japan are using taxpayer money to subsidise their unprofitable whaling industries, according to a first-time analysis of the economics of whaling released today.
2009-June-19
The IWC Blog
The WDCS team reports from the IWC meeting and from around the world as the whaling debate reaches its climax.
2009-June-18
Humpback Whales In The Line Of Fire - Europe To Decide Their Fate
The USA delegation has been trying to bring pressure to bear on the European Union countries to support the Danish application on behalf of Greenland to expand its hunt to include humpback whales.
2009-June-16
Europe: Whale Enemy No.1
With the annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in full swing, European whaling nations provoke the international community with an increase of whaling quotas and granting export permits for whale meat to Japan.
2009-June-09
The USA Must Stand Up For The Integrity Of Aboriginal Whaling
Please help WDCS call on the USA to stand together with its European Allies in opposing Greenland’s expansion of its hunt. The position of the USA will be critical in the coming days and months. Please let the new USA IWC team know that no humpbacks shoul
2009-May-22
Korea Announces Its Future Whaling Intent
Whilst nations gathered in Rome to discuss a potential deal with Japan in an attempt to reduce Japanese so-called ‘scientific whaling’, Korea announced that if such a deal goes forward it would seek a quota and commence commercial whaling.
2009-March-11
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Japan, Deceptions, And The Death Of The Whaling Ban
Evidence that Japan has used misleading and inaccurate information in its attempts to lift the ban on commercial whaling has been released by WDCS. Help us ensure that this evidence means that the IWC will never allow commercial whaling to return
2009-March-01
Iceland Keeps On Whaling
New Iceland government decides to keep whaling.
2009-February-18
WDCS Calls For Rejection Of Whaling Compromise
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is calling on all conservation-minded governments to reject the proposal that has been released by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), given that the document will effectively lift the ban on comme
2009-February-03
Norwegian Whale Meat Confiscated
WDCS has received confirmation from officials with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) that they have confiscated 4320 kilos of whale meat that had been sitting in storage in a pet food facility.
2009-February-03
Iceland Announces Unprecedented New Whale Hunt: 150 Fin Whales And 100 Minke Whales
Help us in the fight to save Iceland’s fin and minke whales from the whalers’ harpoons, send an e-protest to Iceland's Prime MInister.
2009-February-03
Whaling Deals
WDCS is increasingly concerned that deals relating to commercial whaling are being made behind closed doors in a special process that the IWC has established.
2009-January-28
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WDCS Appointed ‘Environmental Partner’ Of SEA LIFE
An agreement sealing the partnership between WDCS and SEA LIFE was signed on 16 January 2009 at the dedication of the newest SEALIFE facility in Porto, Portugal.
2009-January-16
Japan’s Whalers Set Sail For Kill In Whale Sanctuary
The Japanese whaling fleet has set sail from the ports of Shimonoseki and Hiroshima imminently, with the aim of killing over a thousand whales for so-called research purposes. WDCS argues that the real reason however isn’t science, but greed.
2008-November-13
The Myth Of 'Whales Eat Fish'
The Whalers are increasing turning to spurious arguments to justify their dying industry. In Iceland, government scientists tasked with supporting whaling are using ecosystem-based management arguments to support their hunts.
2008-May-10
Live Captures
In its search for live dolphins, the aquarium industry is helping to fund brutal hunts in Japan, known as ‘drive hunts’.
2008-February-20
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-May-28