Captivity Industry: Top news
VICTORY: Thirty captive beluga whales have been blocked from being sold to China, thanks to the efforts of scientists, Canadian activists, and IMMP. Now the effort continues to transfer the belugas to seaside sanctuaries where they can be retired from doing tricks all day.
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The tragic slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan, continues. Kunito Seko, resident activist in Taiji and a skilled photographer, captured the tragedy in his photo of a young dolphin being grabbed by three dolphin hunters, to be torn from her family for a grim life in concrete tanks.
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On the first day of the dolphin hunting season, the Taiji hunters managed to catch and slaughter a whole pod of Risso's dolphins, including calves. WARNING: Graphic Images May be Disturbing.
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Hollywood is urging Japan to end the dolphin hunts in Taiji. The hunts begin again on Sept. 1st and goes for six months. Hundreds of dolphins are killed for meat, but the big payoff for the hunters comes from catching live dolphins for aquariums in China, Japan, and the Middle East.
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The Mexican Senate approved a sweeping law to phase out captivity and transfer captive dolphins to seaside sanctuaries. It is one of the most expansive laws in the world to protect whales and dolphins from captivity, but will it be enforced?
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Marineland in Niagara Falls is closing, and thank goodness. But 31 beluga whales are stranded in tanks in the park, and Marineland wants them to go. The International Marine Mammal Project is working to retire these belugas to seaside sanctuaries.
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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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A pod of pilot whales was decimated in the notorious Cove in Taiji, Japan, last week. Activist and photographer Kunito Seko was on hand to photograph it and report on it. It is unusual for so many to be killed this late, but the Japan Fisheries Agency goes out of its way to allow slaughter and captures of dolphins for a miserable life in captivity.
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Marineland, based in Niagara Falls, Canada, is closing at last -- something to cheer about. But 31 beluga whales are still there in tanks. The International Marine Mammal Project joined 28 of our colleagues asking the Canadian government to send the belugas to seaside sanctuaries, where they will be cared for, but need no longer perform tricks or be forced bred.
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The saga of poor Wikie and Keijo goes on -- now the Spanish government has rejected importing Wikie and Keijo, the last two orcas held in captivity in France, from being sent to Loro Parque Zoo, a horrible facility for orcas. Where will Wikie and Keijo go now? A seaside sanctuary is the ideal solution.
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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 >