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Dolphin + Whale Project: Top news

Scientists Call for California Commission to End Captive Orca Breeding
| Mark J. Palmer, International Marine Mammal Project

A group of scientists has come together to propose that the Commission add a condition to the permit approval in which SeaWorld would no longer breed orcas in captivity in San Diego. The condition would further restrict SeaWorld from bringing in or removing any captive orcas from their San Diego facility, with exceptions for retirement of captive orcas to a sea pen and for bringing in stranded and sick individuals for rehabilitation and return to the ocean.
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Reflections On Our Key Beluga Lawsuit Victory
| Mark J. Palmer, International Marine Mammal Project

We at Earth Island and activists dedicated to ending the captivity of cetaceans are celebrating the victory in federal court in Atlanta. In a huge win, Judge Amy Totenberg denied the Georgia Aquarium the permit they sought in order to import 18 wild-caught beluga whales from a population in Russia that is sorely depleted. "This federal court ruling is a stunning rebuke to every captive whale facility that tries to profit off ripping belugas, orcas and other marine mammals from the wild, despite cruel capture methods and damage to their populations,” stated David Phillips, Director of the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute. The court victory has many ramifications. Russia, along with Taiji, Japan, and Cuba, is becoming a major source of captive marine mammals, as other sources around the world have either been depleted or closed to the dolphin trade by activists and governments.
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IMATA ACCEPTS TAIJI DOLPHIN LETTER
| Mark J. Palmer, International Marine Mammal Project

Save Japan Dolphins staff member Mark Palmer goes to Nassau, Bahamas to deliver a joint scientific and conservation community letter calling for the IMATA to stop its certified trainers from playing any role in the Taiji dolphin captures.
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Watch The "Free Willy Story" About Keiko's Amazing Odyssey From Mexico To Iceland
| David Phillips. Int'l Marine Mammal Project

Keiko was the whale featured in the hit movie Free Willy. This film chronicles Keiko's history and his amazing odyssey from a cramped pool in Mexico City, to a new rescue/rehab facility in Newport, Oregon to his return to a sea pen in his native waters in Iceland.
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Topics: Dolphins, Keiko
SEAWORLD CLAIMS IT WILL NOT TAKE WILD-CAUGHT BELUGA WHALES

In a surprising reversal, SeaWorld has now announced on their website that they will NOT accept any of the 18 wild-caught beluga whales that the Georgia Aquarium is attempting to import into the US from Russia.
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Topics: Dolphins, SeaWorld
Susan Casey Presents "Voices in the Ocean" at Earth Island Institute
| Mary Jo Rice, International Marine Mammal Project

Bestselling author Susan Casey, flanked by Earth Island Institute activists Mark Berman, Mark Palmer, and David Phillips, presented her new book "Voices in the Ocean" to an audience at the Earth Island Institute in Berkeley, California. It was an inspirational night about the amazing dolphins.
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Topics: Dolphins
Fukushima Kids Dolphin Camp is Changing Lives in Japan
| Mark J. Palmer, International Marine Mammal Project

The youth of Japan bring hope that the protection of dolphins is coming. This amazing Japanese Kids Camp is bringing kids from the Fukushima area where high radioactivity limits their playing outdoors to the beautiful Mikura Island where dolphins are protected and revered. What happens is magical.
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SAVING THE LIVES OF ENDANGERED WHALES
| Paolo Bray, Director, Friend of the Sea

Shipping lines have been ignoring the impact of its ship strikes on whales. Friend of the Sea is urging the World Shipping Council to prevent ship strikes in Sri Lanka and worldwide.
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Topics: Dolphins
RUSSIAN ORCA WHALE IMPORTS COULD BE NEXT
| Mark J. Palmer, International Marine Mammal Project

18 wild-caught beluga whales from the Sea of Okhotsk may be imported into the United States to be kept in small concrete tanks. Over the past two years, eleven orcas were caught in the wild in the Sea of Okhotsk. Seven are believed to have been exported to a Chinese aquarium, while three others are now at the Moscow aquarium, the first orcas ever put on display in Russia. Take action with us now.
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INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER CHRIS PALMER
| Laura Bridgeman, Int'l Marine Mammal Project

Earth Island Institute interviews Chris Palmer, one of the world's foremost wildlife documentary filmmakers about dolphins, whales, and wildlife protection around the world.
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Campaign Top News

International Marine Mammal Project >
  • Global warming is helping enhance El Niño, the warming of the Pacific Ocean, to such an extent that it causes global weather changes -- drought in some places; heavy rainfall and flooding in others. Whales will suffer these changes, which weaken oceanic food chains and reduce food production for whales.
  • From pushing for sanctuaries for Wikie & Keijo and 30 beluga whales, to opposing attempts to gut the Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts, to protecting wetlands in the Barataria basin, the International Marine Mammal Project has accomplished a great deal in 2025 for whales and dolphins.
  • What is it like being a student intern at the International Marine Mammal Project? An internship can be life-changing for a student. Our intern Jillian talks about her experience with IMMP.
Save Japan Dolphins >
  • Dolphin captures in Taiji, Japan, occurred on the first of Sept. Now follows 6 months of slaughter and capture of dolphins in the notorious Cove. Our colleague Kunito Seko documented the opening catch of bottlenose dolphins, all destined for a miserable life in captivity.
  • The Taiji dolphin drive hunts have again ended, killing hundreds of dolphins for meat after removing "show quality" animals for a miserable life in captivity. Numbers were slightly higher this year for slaughter, although historically low compared to recent years.
  • Three species of dolphins have been captured and slaughtered over the past month as the bloody Taiji dolphin drive hunts continue. Most of the dolphins you see in these photos are now dead. The hunts end on March 1st, but six months later, they will begin again.
Dolphin + Whale Project >
  • The Trump administration has weakened the US Endangered Species Act through a series of regulatory changes, many of which are in conflict with the clear language of the ESA. Lawsuits have been filed to counter these regulations, but courts are slow, and the regulations need to be removed.
  • A terrible "permit reform" bill now pending in the US Senate would gut the Endangered Species Act, impact protections for endangered right and gray whales, encourage data centers, and block local action to prevent development projects. Contact your Congressmembers!!
  • The Army Corps of Engineers planned to channel fresh water and sediment into the Barataria wetlands for 50 years, threatening wildlife and fisheries, including a population of bottlenose dolphins. Our lawsuit is at an end, and the project is dead. Read our blog.
Keiko Whale Rescue >
  • 30 beluga whales were left in Marineland, Canada, and the government allowed them to go to several parks in the US and one in Spain. So far, five of the "rescued" belugas have died, and more are likely to die soon. Captivity for whales and dolphins needs to end!
  • Like most cetaceans, beluga whales do poorly in captivity. Many are now kept in aquariums around the world -- some get stranded once the aquarium or park goes broke and shuts down. Learn about the beluga whale, and why it is a bad idea to keep them in small concrete tanks.
  • We are deeply saddened at the death of orca whale Tokitae. Calls for her release were denied for decades and it’s shameful that she never got a chance to go home.
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    Tokitae (also known as Lolita) has died. Photo Credit: Dr. Ingrid Visser, Orca Research Trust

Dolphin Safe Fishing >
  • The US is now the biggest importer of seafood in the world, but the sustainability of many of the fisheries involved is highly questionable. The experience with the Dolphin Safe tuna label can help form better monitoring and protection for fish populations, as well as protect non-target species like marine mammals.
  • Every year, we estimate that the Dolphin Safe label on tuna cans saves the lives of 90,000 dolphins annually in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, and many more in other oceans of the world. You, as a consumer, should know how the Dolphin Safe label works to protect dolphins in global tuna fisheries.
  • A new Marine Mammal Protection Act has been proposed for the Philippines, with strong support from our IMMP Philippines office, with the support of Representative Co. Read about this new legislation to protect endangered species like the Irrawaddy dolphin and other Filipino whales and dolphins.
Freeing Orca Whales from Captivity >
  • IMMP opposed the transfer of belugas from Canada's Marineland to US aquariums. This so-called "rescue" has resulted in 30 belugas being moved to marine parks, but one has already died at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. How many more will the captivity industry kill?
  • Thirty belugas in a closed park in Canada are scheduled to be sent to five aquariums in the US and Spain. IMMP is demanding a better review of their health before moving them and a ban on breeding them in captivity. Read our letter.
  • The orcas Wikie and her son Keijo are still trapped in Marineland in France. Marineland wants the orcas to go to Loro Parque Zoo, an aquarium in Spain with one of the worst records of captive orca deaths. IMMP is urging the French government to instead retire Wikie and Keijo to a seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia.
Freeing Wikie & Keijo >

Topics

Angel - Bans, Legislation - Belugas - Biden Administration - Captivity Industry - Cetacean Habitat - China - Climate Change - Covid-19 - Demonstrations - Dolphin And Whale Trade - Dolphin Safe Tuna - Dolphins - Dugong - Earth Day - Entanglement - Grey Whales - Grindadrap - Iceland - International Whaling Commission - Japan - Keiko - Lawsuit - Marine National Monuments - Navy, Military - Norway - Offshore Oil & Oil Spills - Orcas - Philippines - Pilot Whales - Plastic Pollution - Pollution - Rehabilitation, Release - Russia - Sanctuaries - Science - Seaworld - Slaughter - Solomon Islands - Taiji, Japan - Trump Administration - Tuna Industry - Vaquita - Whales - Whaling - Mystic Aquarium - Marineland - Seals & Sea Lions - Marine Protected Areas - Sperm Whale - Sea Otter - Lolita - Tokitae - Miami Seaquarium - Latin America - Ship Strikes - Ocean Noise - Salmon - Blue Whale - Fin Whale - Right Whale - Us Marine Mammal Protection Act - Environment - Minke Whale - Humpback Whale - Gray Whale - Mexico - Endangered Species Act - Bowhead Whale