2023 International Marine Mammal Project Accomplishments
By Mark J. Palmer
It has been a wild year, but despite all the conflicts in the world and dysfunction in Congress, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute made a number of important contributions to protect and preserve whales, dolphins, and their ocean homes.
Your support has been critical to our work, and we hope you will join with us in celebrating these successes.
Last Orcas in Captivity:
On the 30th Anniversary of the movie Free Willy and the 10th Anniversary for the documentaryBlackfish, we ramped up our campaign to end all orca captivity for human entertainment. This included growing public support and pressing the last remaining North American company still holding orcas, SeaWorld, to relocate its remaining captive orcas to certified seaside sanctuaries. We also urged the US Congress and recruited co-sponsors for the SWIMS Act to end all import and forced breeding of captive orcas, belugas, pilot whales and false killer whales into the US. We will work in 2024 to help pass this important legislation.
Iceland Whaling:
Along with Japan and Norway, Iceland is one of only three countries still conducting the commercial slaughter of whales. The last Icelandic whaling company is focused on killing endangered fin whales with the meat mostly being exported to Japan. In 2023 the Icelandic government imposed a ban on whaling because of its cruelty, only to reverse it under internal political pressure. We partnered with Oceanic Preservation Society, OceanCare and Legaseas to mobilize international support for the government to permanently end commercial whaling and are hopeful that Iceland will at long last block all whale killing permits for 2024 and beyond.
Plastics Report to United Nations Plastics Pollution Treaty Delegates:
IMMP presented copies of our report, The Plastics Plague: Marine Mammals and Our Oceans in Peril, to the staff of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), based in Kenya. UNEP oversees the negotiations on the Plastics Pollution Treaty. We further provided copies to about 250 government delegates to the Treaty negotiations. IMMP stated the importance of delegates establishing restrictions on the use of plastic fishing gear to include in the Treaty.
Protecting Dolphins from Tuna Nets:
In 2023, IMMP monitors conducted more than 500 audits of tuna companies in 77 countries around the world. Our Dolphin Safe standards and monitoring prevent the deaths of 90,000 dolphins every year. Currently, more than 800 tuna companies in our program catch tuna without chasing, netting, or killing dolphins. Together with our sister organization, Friend of the Sea, we have also increased pressure to mandate the use of remote electronic monitoring, including cameras and GPS receivers on all commercial fishing vessels to improve the tracking of fishing practices and protect government observers and crew members.
Dolphins are still being chased, abused and killed in nets to catch tuna in Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia. Buy only Dolphin Safe tuna as monitored and approved by Earth Island. Photo Credit: US National Marine Fisheries Service
Saving Japan Dolphins:
IMMP continued working with Japanese activists in Taiji, opposing the dolphin slaughter in the notorious Cove. Just prior to the Sept. 1st start of the 2023 season of dolphin slaughter, IMMP also publicized the results of our latest testing of dolphin and whale meat from markets in Taiji. With one exception, dolphin and minke whale meat testing revealed levels of mercury and PCBs greatly exceeding Japan’s own health standards for safety. IMMP also was the first organization to publicize a new scientific paper showing dolphin populations in Japan were declining due to overexploitation. IMMP provided funding to a Japanese activist and photographer for monitoring the Cove and advocating in Japan for an end to the dolphin captures and killing. We support the continued efforts of Japanese activists protesting against the dolphin hunts and dolphin captivity in Japan – they are critical to turning the tide of public opinion in Japan.
Ending Russia’s Orca & Beluga Capture and Display:
Despite all the disruptions related to the war in Ukraine, we have continued to generate international pressure and work with local activists, urging the Russian Duma (Parliament) to ban captures of wild whales and dolphins for the aquarium trade. Russia has been the main global supplier of live wild orcas and beluga whales for captivity. Early in 2023, the Duma finally passed a measure banning all cetacean captures in Russian waters for public display or export, a huge milestone. There are loopholes that will have to be watched. A further big step forward was the announcement by Moscow’s Moskvarium Aquarium that keeping orcas in captivity is unworkable and that they will cease seeking any wild orcas. The decision came after the death of two young orcas in 2023 at their facilities, leaving only one remaining captive orca.
Protecting Barataria:
The US Army Corps of Engineers has proposed the biggest bypass scheme in the world, channeling mud and sand from the Mississippi River into Barataria Bay, a shallow, swampy wild area south of New Orleans. IMMP is joining shell-fishermen, who depend on Barataria Bay for their livelihoods, in suing the Army Corps to stop this massive sacrifice of Barataria. Endangered sea turtles are among the many species expected to be harmed by the diversion, and a population of bottlenose dolphins will likely be decimated if the project goes forward. Stay tuned!
Thank you!
Happy Holidays!
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The IMMP Team would like to thank you for your support for helping protect whales, dolphins and their ocean homes. You provide the lifeblood for campaigns that make a real difference. We deeply appreciate your commitment and partnership! There’s still time to make a donation before the end of the year so you can count it as a tax deduction for 2023. Thank you!
