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International Marine Mammal Project: Top news

A Minke Whale is Brutally Killed in Taiji
| By Mark J. Palmer

On December 24th, a minke whale, the smallest of the baleen whales, became trapped in a series of set nets used by fishermen to catch fish, near the notorious town of Taiji, Japan.
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Saving the Irrawaddy Dolphins of the Philippines
| Trixie Concepcion, Director of Dolphin Safe Monitoring Program, East Asia-Pacific

Trixie Concepcion leads the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) dolphin-safe tuna monitoring effort from the Philippines, responsible for reviewing tuna shipments caught in the Asian Pacific Ocean. She is actively involved in many wildlife issues in the Philippines, such as the campaign to help save the Irrawaddy dolphins.
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President Biden's First Environmental Steps
| By Mark J. Palmer

He issued a number of executive orders during his first days in office, working to reverse the damage of the Trump Administration on the environment.
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Sign the Petition to President Biden to Tackle Plastic
| By Mark J. Palmer

IMMP has joined forces with many major environmental organizations in seeking early action by President Biden on an array of issues to protect whales, dolphins, and their ocean homes.
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Update on The Bahamas Offshore Oil Drilling
| By Mark J. Palmer

Drilling began on December 20th on the “Perseverance #1 Well” and is continuing despite the lawsuit brought by the grassroots environmental groups Waterkeeper Bahamas Limited and Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay. The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute, along with a wide range of local and national environmental organizations, is opposing the drilling.
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North Atlantic Right Whale Threatened With Extinction
| By Tara Van Hoorn

Species such as the North Atlantic Right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) are experiencing some of the worst damage from active fishing gear. Entanglement in fishing gear has caused the Right whale population to decline dramatically, pushing them close to extinction.
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Topics: Whales
IMMP’s Plans and Hopes for 2021
| By Mark J. Palmer, Associate Director

As we enter a new year, the International Marine Mammal Project is still hard at work laying out our plans and hopes to help save whales, dolphins, and their ocean homes.
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IMMP’s 2020 Accomplishments for Whales and Dolphins

Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute accomplished landmark protections for whales, dolphins, and the ocean.
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Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Misleading Claims of Sustainability
| By Tara Van Hoorn

A new report finds that the Marine Stewardship Council certifies unsustainable, large fisheries that often use tons of plastic.
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Russian Conservationists Disentangle 28 Fur Seals
| By Mark J. Palmer

For the first time ever, Russian conservationists have disentangled a number of fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on Russia’s Seal Island, near Sakhalin Island in the Pacific Ocean.
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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