Whales In The Wild

What WWF is Doing


What WWF is doing for whale conservation



WF remains closely involved in making sure that the IWC operates as much as possible as a whale conservation body. Without the IWC there would be no control on whaling, no moratorium, and no sanctuaries where whaling was prohibited. Although it has to ope rate within the partly outdated bounds of the nearly 50 year-old International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the IWC is the only international organization with the authority to regulate for whale conservation worldwide. It is recognized as su ch in both UNCLOS (implicitly) and UNCED's Agenda 21 (explicitly).

With the moratorium and the whale sanctuaries in place, the IWC is turning its attention increasingly to other aspects of whale conservation, and WWF is active in promoting this. Among the issues being addressed by the IWC and its Scientific Committee are conservation measures for small cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, and small whales), the relative humaneness of different whale-killing methods, the growth of whale-watching, and environmental threats to whales.

The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

The campaign to help achieve the IWC's declaration of virtually the whole of the Southern Ocean as a whale sanctuary in 1994 is one of WWF's greatest success stories. The new sanctuary's boundary joins the Indian Ocean Sanctuary's southern boundary, each sanctuary covering some 50 million square kilometres. Together they protect the whales of about one-third of the world's oceans from whaling. The sanctuary effectively ends any possibility of the resumption of large-scale whaling anywhere in the world.

Map of the world

The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was first proposed by the government of France at the 1992 IWC meeting, and with the help of a few other governments and a number of NGOs including WWF it rapidly gained support among the IWC member countries. For exampl e, in 1993, 71,800 New Zealanders signed up to WWF's "Say No to Whaling" campaign within six weeks of its launch. The sanctuary was adopted only two years after its initial proposal by an overwhelming vote of 23 in favour, six abstentions, and only one (J apan) against. It finally came into force on 7 December 1994, after Russia had first lodged an official objection which would have seriously undermined the sanctuary, and then been persuaded to withdraw its protest under strong pressure from outside, incl uding WWF.

The declaration of the Southern Ocean as a whale sanctuary was crucial for allowing the recovery of the whale populations that were originally the most abundant in the world, and had suffered the most from the whalers. The sperm whales and all the Souther n Hemisphere baleen whales, with the exception of the tropical Bryde's whale, migrate to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica in summer to feed.

Exploitation of the smallest species, the 10-metre minke whale, had begun in the early 1970s. Nearly 100,000 were taken there in the next 15 years. Today the minke is the only species remaining on the Antarctic feeding grounds in relatively large numbers. Without the sanctuary — if the moratorium were ever lifted — the only possible large-scale whaling left in the world could have reopened on these Antarctic minke populations. It is to be hoped that through creation of the sanctuary, this will be prevente d forever.

Sanctuary research workshop

One of the important benefits of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary will be the opportunity to undertake benign research on the gradually recovering whale populations. In 1995, WWF co-sponsored a scientific workshop with Greenpeace International and the I nternational Fund For Animal Welfare. The workshop brought together a group of highly experienced whale scientists from 12 different countries who drew up a framework of long-term non-lethal research in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Investigation of illegal whale-meat trade

Whale meat still commands very high prices in Japanese shops and restaurants — in December 1994, one kilogram retailed for about US$200 (Yomiuri Shimbun, 10 December 1994). These prices fuel an illegal trade in whale meat in several countries. In 1993, TR AFFIC investigators found baleen whale meat on sale in the markets of Pusan, South Korea, even though all baleen whales are protected under Appendix 1 of CITES. Pusan was also the destination of an illegal shipment of 3.5 tonnes of whale meat labelled as "shrimps" confiscated at Oslo airport in October 1993; although there is a domestic market for baleen whale meat in Norway, the prices are much higher in Korea and Japan. TRAFFIC is continuing its monitoring of East Asian markets in 1995, with WWF funding . It is possible to use DNA analysis to indicate the origin of whale meat, showing which species and which ocean it came from.

The RMP and RMS

The work on producing a replacement to the NMP continued in the Scientific Committee for several years, with extensive computer simulations being undertaken of all the possible alternatives to see what effect they would have on whale populations. The repl acement for the NMP is known as the Revised Management Procedure (RMP), and the version that the IWC finally accepted in 1994 to be as safe as it could be had benefited greatly from the involvement of independent scientists. There is no question of actual ly applying the RMP and setting whale catch limits so long as the moratorium is in place. Important spin-offs are likely as the approach used in the RMP should provide the basis for sustainable exploitation regimes for other species, including many types of fish.

The RMP is just one part of the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) that has been under discussion in the IWC for several years. The RMS must include not only the RMP, but also stringent standards for population surveys and for data on past catches, and the t horny question of supervision and control of any whaling — the issue that has been highlighted again by the Russian disclosures of large Soviet catches of nominally protected whales. For several IWC members the question of finding more humane killing meth ods is also critical. The IWC will not be able to discuss reviewing the moratorium until they have agreed and voted on all the elements of the RMS.


WWF in action around the globe

As well as working on cetacean conservation at the international level, WWF is continuing with a variety of local initiatives around the world designed to find out more about whales, dolphins, and porpoises and to address the threats they are facing, but much more needs to be done. With some WWF marine projects, the whales or dolphins serve as "flagship" species and by helping them the whole marine ecosystem benefits. In other projects, such as marine protected areas, the focus is on protecting the ecosys tem, which in turn brings benefits for the cetaceans found there. In almost all cases, enhancing local awareness and understanding of the need for marine conservation is an important component of these projects.

Canada

"Whales Beneath the Ice": WWF-Canada undertook a major three-year programme from 1983 to 1986, with funding of over CAN$2 million (US$1.4 million). Seven projects were undertaken in close co-operation with northern communities, researching the conservatio n needs of the three species of Arctic whales, belugas, narwhals, and bowheads. The methods used included surveys and observation, tagging, acoustic studies, and research into the history of native whaling for bowheads.

One far-reaching development from this programme has been WWF-Canada's work in helping to establish a sanctuary for bowhead whales at Isabella Bay, Baffin Island. Once hunted as part of the traditional Inuit hunt, now only a few hundred of the eastern population of bowhead whales remain after the depredations of commercial European whalers. Protecting critical parts of their habitat is vital in helping their recovery. The sanctuary proposal was discussed extensively with the local Inuit community at Clyde River (population 500), and approved unanimously by them. Formal designation of the area, both as a National Wildlife Area and as a Biosphere Reserve, is expected before the end of 1995. WWF is funding research into the feeding patterns of the bowheads in Isabella Bay.

Another recent Canadian WWF project has used photographic methods and behavioural research to investigate the little-known northern bottlenose whale in the "Gully", a submarine canyon near Sable Island, Nova Scotia.

The beluga whales of the St Lawrence River are critically endangered. While thousands once plied the St Lawrence, fewer than 500 remain today. Whaling caused the initial decline, but disturbances from commercial and recreational shipping, and above all to xic contaminants, have impeded the whale's recovery. This species is so polluted by DDT and PCBs that dead carcasses have to be disposed of as toxic waste. WWF-Canada has been supporting protection and recovery efforts for the St Lawrence belugas for over 20 years, and has spent nearly half a million dollars. A healthy population of belugas would also signal the start of a recovery in the St Lawrence/Great Lakes ecosystem on which many other species and millions of people depend. WWF has secured the estab lishment by the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans of a recovery team for the whales, and are co-chairing the team which is working on a recovery plan addressing the critical problems affecting the belugas. The plan is due for completion by June 1 995. A sharp reduction in the level of toxic discharges entering the St Lawrence is seen as the number one priority.

In parallel to the St Lawrence project, WWF-US's Wildlife and Contaminants Programme is investigating the potential effects of man-made chemicals in the environment on whales. In particular, the effects of toxic chemicals on the reproduction and health of right whales and belugas.

Dominican Republic

Some 3,000 whales, representing about 90 per cent of the entire western North Atlantic humpback whale population, congregate each year from January to March at the Silver Bank off the Atlantic coast of the Dominican Republic for breeding and calving. Silv er Bank was designated as a marine sanctuary for humpbacks in 1986, and WWF-US began supporting humpback whale and other marine research in Dominican waters in 1988. In 1991, WWF worked in collaboration with the Centre for Marine Biological Research (CIBI MA) to strengthen the Silver Bank Commission which implements the management plan for the Silver Bank Humpback Whale Sanctuary. By 1993, over 15,000 people were going whale-watching in the Dominican Republic, mostly in Samana Bay, bringing in a total reve nue of over US$3 million. WWF is now assisting the local NGO FUNDEMAR with education and public awareness, and with strengthening guidelines for whale-watching and national laws to protect the whales, dolphins, and other marine species.

Europe

WWF participated in a public awareness campaign on the issue of dolphins and whales caught in driftnets and tuna purse-setting fisheries from 1991 to 1993. The Swiss tuna marketing industry was persuaded to commit itself to a highly effective dolphin-safe statement and purchase policy. A monitoring programme in the canneries of Spain, and campaigns in Belgium, France, Italy, and the UK, were organized.

Japan

About 20,000 people went whale-watching in Japan in 1994, inspired by WWF research. WWF-Japan ran a very successful research project on Ogasawara (Bonin Islands), and Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) from 1988 to 1994, which produced important new information abo ut the status, behaviour, and migration patterns of the western North Pacific population of humpback whales on their winter calving grounds. The project became involved with the fast growing whale-watching enterprise, which reflects the rapidly changing a ttitude of Japanese people to whales, and has attracted much local press interest. Promotional materials and basic guidelines for whale-watching were produced with the help of Dr Jim Darling, the project's Canadian scientific adviser. The tourists' photog raphs were added to the researchers' in building up information on the whales and producing an identification catalogue. WWF input into the survey was scaled down in 1994 as the Ogasawara Marine Centre decided to carry on by themselves, and WWF is now fun ding a local researcher in Okinawa only. A further survey to cover the entire Nansei Shoto region is planned.

The interest in whale- and dolphin-watching aroused by this project has stimulated several other whale-watching ventures around the coast of Japan. In 1994, Japanese people spent over 100 million yen (US$1 million) watching whales. WWF Japan has helped th em with advice and information, and has produced a widely distributed informational film for the three main whale-watching locations.

New Zealand

WWF is supporting a three-year study, from 1993, of the sperm whales off Kaikoura, on the South Island of New Zealand. Kaikoura, a former whaling station, is one of the few places in the world where a group of sperm whales can be studied close to the shor e. Acoustic techniques, listening to the clicks made by the whales, will be used as well as photographic and visual methods. Samples of sloughed skin are being used for DNA analysis to determine relationships between the Kaikoura stock and those elsewhere . This is the only detailed research programme in the world focusing on male sperm whales in high latitudes. Between 60 and 200 whales visit Kaikoura each year. The results are being used to advise on the management of the rapidly expanding whale-watching activities. This three-year project is funded through WWF-NZ and Telecom Fundraising Partnership.

Norway

Since 1987, WWF Sweden has helped fund a long-term project to examine the seasonal distribution and abundance of orcas off Norway's northern coasts. Scientists are examining the structure and stability of the orca groups, their feeding behaviour, and voca lizations. The work will help clarify the relationship between the orcas and one of their principle food species, the herring. The concentration of orcas following the herring stocks in a few fjords each autumn has started to attract whale-watching touris ts, to the benefit of the local economy.

WWF-Norway has funded a project examining the findings from sightings of sperm, orca, and minke whales on the Andenes Whale Safari tours in Norway, as well as conducting other research on sperm whales in that area. In addition, it sponsors educational exh ibits to promote public awareness in the Andenes Whale Centre, including information for the whale-watching tourists.

South Africa

With the help of strict conservation measures, the threatened southern right whale population off the South African coast has been making a good recovery from extremely low numbers, although the population is still only around 10 per cent of its original abundance. When whaling stopped, it is estimated that this population had only 25 adult females left, which probably led to a loss of genetic diversity. WWF-South Africa, in conjunction with the South African Marine Corporation, the IWC, and the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa, has helped fund a long-term monitoring programme which started in 1969, studying the whales' population dynamics and genetic variation using aerial surveys and DNA analysis of skin samples.

WWF-South Africa has also supported research into humpback whales off the western Cape coast; humpback and bottlenose dolphins off East Cape and Natal; and the endemic Heaviside's dolphin off the west coast of South Africa and Namibia. Total funding for t hese projects from WWF has amounted to nearly 625,000 South African rand (US$170,000).

USA

WWF-US is leading worldwide efforts to assess threats posed to whales by man-made toxic chemicals in the marine ecosystem. WWF-US scientist Dr Theo Colborn has in recent years identified entire classes of pervasive chemicals that mimic natural hormones in animal embryos (including human) thereby disrupting the embryo's normal development. Among the phenomena associated with exposure to these so-called "endocrine disruptors" is reduced fertility or, in some cases, complete reproductive failure.

Research by Dr Colborn and others has found extremely high oceanic concentrations of some of these chemicals and has found toxins in whale blubber at levels that are cause for serious concern. Based on work done so far, it is now clear that the well-being of whale populations can no longer be based just on the number of animals in a given population. Follow-up research is aimed at understanding better the impacts of present exposure levels, identifying at-risk whale populations, and exploring mitigation o ptions.




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Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature