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What is ghost gear?
Ghost gear is scary. It’s the name given to fishing nets and ropes that have been lost or abandoned at sea and are not under the control of a fisher anymore. They drift, untethered, silent and often unseen, a deadly menace to whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, seabirds and other marine life.
It’s time to make the UK ghost gear free.
Man sentenced for shooting dolphins
A man in Florida, US has been imprisoned for 30 days and ordered to pay a $51,000 fine for shooting and poisoning dolphins. Authorities brought the case against Zackery Barfield a licensed charter vessel owner after it was claimed he tried to kill dolphins on numerous occasions from 2022-2023, violating the US Marine Mammal Protection…
Whales are helping each other to break free from fishing gear
A new study from researchers at California State University, and other specialists has documented whales trying to help companions when they become entangled in fishing gear. Whilst at sea, the research team had observed strange behaviour from a couple of whales, one of whom was caught in a fishing line. The adult humpback was repeatedly…
How does your support help whales and dolphins in Scotland?
At the end of April, you helped raise over £60,000 to restore the seas around Scotland to the safe haven for whales and dolphins they once were. As WDC’s adopt a dolphin field officer, I spend my days on or near these waters, and I want to share what your incredible support for Scottish seas means to me
Whale safety concerns over toxic leaks in Isle of Man
Aerial photo of Peel Castle on the Isle Of Man The Isle of Man government has been forced to defend its commitment to environmental protection, and to maintaining the region’s Unesco biosphere reserve status after admitting that landfill sites on the Island are still discharging hazardous chemical contaminants into the sea, which cause harm to…
US officials investigate death of captive dolphin following head injury
According to latest reports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investigating the death of a dolphin during a public show at a theme park. Law enforcement officials had already carried out searches at Gulf World Marine Park, Panama City Beach where four dolphins have died in recent months and drone footage immerged appearing to…
WDC seeks protection for whales under threat from high-speed ferries in Japan
We have been increasing pressure on authorities in Okinawa, Japan to bring in measures to protect humpback whales under threat from plans to operate high-speed hydrofoil ferries in important breeding areas for these whales. The proposal by the ferry company Kumejima Ocean Jet has met with strong criticism from our experts as well as from…
How do we save the planet?
A healthy planet needs a healthy ocean, but we humans have devastated the ocean environment and decimated whale and dolphin populations. So, how do we undo the damage, restore the ocean and save the world?
We’re going to the United Nations World Ocean Conference next month to tell world leaders: the time to act is now. Here’s what we’re asking them to do:
How to protect Scottish seas
Just imagine the seas around Scotland clean, thriving and bursting with life again – a safe haven for whales and dolphins. Imagine nature recovering alongside low impact green energy and opportunities for economic growth and livelihoods. Imagine flourishing seas which help us overcome the climate crisis and reverse species decline, as well providing healing spaces for people to enjoy. If we act together, we won’t have to just imagine.
