Cetaceans - Threats

Cetaceans are under threat from ship collisions, toxic contamination, entanglement in fishing gear, intensive oil and gas development in feeding grounds, and increasing effects of climate change and habitat degradation. Latest research reveals that Climate Change is having a huge effect. Effects range from changes in sea temperature and the freshening of the seawater because of the melting of ice and increased rainfalls, to sea level rise, loss of icy polar habitats and the decline of krill populations in key areas.

Decades for population to recover
Historically, the large-scale whaling industries of many countries devastated one species of whale after another. Although most populations of whales have been fully protected from hunting for some time, a number of these were reduced to such very low levels that it is taking them decades to recover. The North Atlantic right whale has not shown any signs of recovery in 15 years.