Dolphin Web

Although many people have come to respect and appreciate the need to protect whales and dolphins, the future of the world’s cetaceans remains uncertain. In the past 150 years humans have been responsible for the deaths of a staggering number of marine mammals. In 1876 alone, over 30,000 Blue Whales, the largest animals ever to exist, were killed and processed, almost driving the species to extinction. As a result, this population may never recover. Only in the past few decades have species such as the humpback whale become protected from commercial whaling. Today, humans continue to have a dreadful impact on the lives of cetaceans through direct and indirect killings in countries throughout the world.

Cetaceans are not protected worldwide. Countries such as Denmark, Greenland, Norway and Chile are just a few examples of nations that permit the hunting of whales and dolphins. Sadly, many species, of which natural population numbers are unknown, are still exploited. Japan continues to kill thousands of dolphins and porpoise each year to supply the commercial market with “small whale” meat.

The tuna fishing industry in the eastern tropical Pacific is a major contributor to the staggering statistics of direct kills. Over seven million dolphins have been killed through tuna fishing since the early seventies when the problem first became recognised. Because tuna tend to congregate beneath groups of dolphins, fishers can find the tuna by locating pods of dolphins. They then set their nets around the dolphins in order to entrap the tuna. Exhausted and stressed, dolphins become entangled in the nets and suffocate or are crushed alive as the nets are hauled in through the power block.

Recently some canneries have declared themselves “dolphin friendly” by selling only tuna that has not been caught in association with dolphins. This, however, may not be a “solution” as there is still controversy over claims that dolphins were not killed in these tuna fishing operations.

Drift nets and gill nets remain the most destructive indirect killers of marine mammals throughout the world. These nets, made of non-biodegradable nylon, are visually and acoustically undetectable to cetaceans. Stretched over hundreds of kilometres, these nets are suspended vertically in the water and allowed to drift. Entire populations of fish, birds and other marine animals are ruthlessly exterminated. It is impossible to know the number of whales and dolphins killed per year by this deadly fishing method because high sea drift net fisheries are unregulated and conducted far out at sea. Despite an international resolution which prohibits the expansion of drift net activities, “pirate” (illegal) drift netting continues to be a growing problem.

The marine environment continues to be corrupted through the irresponsible and extensive exploitation of resources. Positive action from each of us is the only way we can stop destroying cetaceans. The protection of cetaceans relies upon us making changes in our attitudes and, more importantly, in our behaviour and lifestyle. The following page gives some suggestions about the simple things that we can do to help. In addition, we can encourage others to take action by informing our elected government representatives, writing letters, signing petitions and telling others of the dangers that are faced by cetaceans. Through continued efforts on many fonts and with growing numbers of concerned and active people whales and dolphins may have a chance of survival in the future