Sea Shepherd’s Faroe Islands Director, Valentina Crast, joined an expert panel on November 25, 2024, as part of the American Bar Association’s inaugural “Blue Crimes Webinar Series.” This session, titled “Legality of Dolphin and Whale Hunts,” examined the legal, ethical, and environmental implications of cetacean hunts worldwide. The event launched a three-part series addressing crimes […]
Tag: marine mammals
Saving ‘old and wise’ animals vital for species’ survival, say scientists
It’s not just humans who get wiser as they age – animals do too, according to a growing body of research. The bigmouth buffalo fish can reach 127 years old, the Greenland shark 392, and some sponges can live for 10,000 years or more. And age is not just a number: as animals get older […]
Microplastics are sickening and killing wildlife, disrupting Earth systems
Bottlenose dolphins leapt and torpedoed through the shallow turquoise waters off Florida’s Sarasota Bay. Then, a research team moved in, quickly corralling the small pod in a large net. With the speed of a race car pit crew, veterinarians, biologists and their assistants examined the animals, checking vital signs while taking skin, blood and other […]
Whales ‘relentlessly pestered’: tourism boom sparks new rules in French Polynesia
Lisette Muratore swam with humpback whales for the first time off the coast of Mo’orea, an island in French Polynesia, as part of a guided tour. She describes the experience as “overwhelming.” “You have a sudden realisation of the immensity of these creatures … seeing their wild beauty, it’s almost like there’s something sacred about […]
Here’s What Would Happen if All Marine Species Disappeared
Marine species play a critical role in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems. Their existence is not only essential for the health of our oceans but also for the well-being of life on land. However, imagine a world where every marine species vanishes, leaving behind a barren and lifeless ocean. The implications of […]
Washington’s Makah Tribe could once again harpoon whales as US waives conservation law
SEATTLE (AP) – The United States granted the Makah Indian Tribe in Washington state a long-sought waiver Thursday that helps clear the way for its first sanctioned whale hunts since 1999 and sets the stage for renewed clashes with animal rights activists. The Makah, a tribe of 1,500 people on the northwestern tip of the […]
Orca Dies After Being Stranded Off Canadian Coast Despite Rescue Efforts
Tragedy struck off the coast of Canada’s Vancouver Island as efforts to rescue a stranded killer whale ended in sorrow. The stranded orca, identified as T109A3, sadly perished despite the valiant efforts of residents and marine officials. She left behind a calf. The incident unfolded when members of the Ehattisaht First Nation spotted the distressed […]
Bird flu found in mammals near Antarctica for the first time, scientists say
Bird flu has made its way into fur and elephant seal populations for the first time on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, a team of scientists confirmed on Thursday, setting off alarm bells for conservationists as the highly contagious disease has already killed millions of birds worldwide. Scientists first suspected the presence of avian […]