International Marine Mammal Project: Top news
Time to celebrate International Women's Day -- here are six women making progress in the protection of our oceans. We owe them a lot!
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Perhaps no one has been more active in helping enforce and improve the US Marine Mammal Protection Act than Don Baur, an attorney and friend who we lost in December.
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No one is better known in the whale research community than Ken Balcomb. He died last December 15th, leaving a lasting legacy of orca and whale research, conservation advocacy, and his many students and friends.
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We've prepared a timeline of IMMP's accomplishments over the past 40 years for whales, dolphins and their ocean homes.
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Many whales and dolphins benefited this year from the work of the International Marine Mammal Project. Read about our accomplishments in 2022.
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Despite promises to combat global warming, the Biden Administration is again offering oil leasing on thousands of acres of public lands -- lands that belong to you and me. Yet, the oil industry rakes in record profits.
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For 40 years, the International Marine Mammal Project has been working to protect whales, dolphins, and their ocean homes.
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In May, Mystic Aquarium imported five belugas from the Canadian aquarium MarineLand. The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute and many individuals, scientists and organizations strongly objected to the import, in part because the stress of a move would harm the whales. Now, one of those imported belugas has died from gastric ulcers, a stress-related cause.
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Hvaldimir, the beluga whale suspected of being a Russian spy, is facing his most dangerous mission yet: trying to survive in the wild.
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On August 19, 2021, the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute sent the following letter to the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) and the US Coast Guard, urging these agencies to put in place mandatory speed limits for large commercial vessels that threaten whales with ship strikes along the coast of California. Currently, ships speeds are voluntary, and as many as half of the commercial vessels ignore the limits.
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Campaign Top News
- International Marine Mammal Project >
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- Save Japan Dolphins >
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- Dolphin + Whale Project >
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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- Keiko Whale Rescue >
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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!
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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.
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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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- Dolphin Safe Fishing >
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- Freeing Orca Whales from Captivity >
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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?
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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.
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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.
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- Freeing Wikie & Keijo >