In a new study of large whales in East Greenland, researchers have documented a dramatic biodiversity shift: minke whales, fin whales and humpback whales, once rarely seen in these waters, have now become abundant. The research, conducted by Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and colleagues in Greenland, Denmark and Iceland, presents a striking example of […]
Tag: minke whales
Petition: Stop Japan’s Plans to Slaughter Nearly 450 Vulnerable Whales This Year for Profit
Today, the whales that we share this world with are under attack from all sides. Pollution is poisoning their waters, climate change is ruining their habitats and food sources, and human threats like speeding boats and fishing nets are killing them at an alarming rate. Conservation efforts are the only way to fight these threats, […]
It’s as sleek as a torpedo, as long as a bus, and weighs the same as an elephant: Discover the ocean creature that slices through our waters at 35 km/h
Minke whales are the smallest and often overlooked members of the baleen whale family, yet they are fascinating creatures with complex behaviors and surprising adaptability. What are minke whales? Minke whales are one of 16 species belonging to the family of Baleen whales How big are minke whales? Minkes are the smallest of the whales, […]
Whale Sightings Hit Record High During Citizen Science Migration Count
In Australia’s latest survey of whale populations, humpbacks have been seen migrating north along the eastern coastline in record numbers. Over 5,000 confirmed sightings were made by mariners and others in the state of New South Wales so far, as the animals make their way out of the southern oceans with their calves. The Organization […]
Iceland’s Biggest Whaling Company Cancels Whale Hunt for 2025!
In a rare win for whales, Iceland‘s largest commercial whaling company, Hvalur hf., has announced it will not hunt fin whales during the summer of 2025. The decision follows years of controversy, global criticism, and a shrinking market for whale meat in Japan, where the company exports nearly all of its catch. According to Mongabay, […]
Hundreds of whales to be harpooned as Iceland issues new hunting licenses
On Dec. 6, Iceland‘s caretaker government announced it had issued five-year licenses to hunt fin and minke whales in Icelandic waters. It granted the fin whale hunting license to Hvalur hf., the country’s only remaining fin-whaling company, run by billionaire Kristján Loftsson, and the minke-hunting permit to a ship owned by Tjaldtangi ehf., a whaling […]
Petition: Help Stop Japan’s Hunting of Vulnerable Fin Whales
As Japan‘s whaling killing season begins, the survival of fin whales is at risk. These majestic creatures are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, yet fin whales were added to Japan’s list of targeted species. Now, a massive whaling factory ship has set sail to hunt these gentle giants, and […]
Unusually Large Number of Whales Spotted, Including Multiple Endangered Species, off Northeast U.S. Coasts
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported 161 sightings of whales last month, representing seven different whale species. The sightings, recorded on May 25, took place off the northeastern U.S. Coasts, near Martha’s Vineyard and southeast of Nantucket. According to NOAA, the sightings included an unusually high number of whale species, particularly endangered […]