The majority of WWF's global conservation work to protect whales and dolphins takes place within the context of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). It is here that we address the ongoing threat of whaling along with other threats such as climate change and bycatch.
International Whaling Commission (IWC)
New Report
- Economics of subsidies to whaling 217 KB pdf
- Summary of the economics of whaling report 498 KB pdf
Policy documents
WWF position papers, factsheets and reports related to the protection of whales, dolphins, and porpoises from whaling, bycatch, climate change, and other threats.
More information
Whaling, bycatch, and climate change pose largest threats
Whaling is taking place and increasing yearly without any international control. Whilst the debate has raged over how best to manage commercial whaling, emerging threats to the future of whale, dolphin and porpoise populations have also begun to be addressed by the IWC.
WWF believes the IWC must address all of the threats to cetacean populations, particularly that of bycatch and climate change.
Over 300,000 whales and dolphins are caught and killed in fishing nets each year. Bycatch, like whaling removes animals permanently from the wild population.
By-catch and climate change also require international action
For some populations, bycatch has replaced whaling as the biggest cause of mortality.
Climate change may also impact the areas of the oceans in which whales live, and affect migration patterns. Climate change, depletion of the ozone layer and the related rise in UV radiation may also lead to a fall in the population of krill, a primary food source for many marine species.
Whaling News
Slow swimming whale meeting makes climate change breakthrough
The International Whaling Commission adopted a major climate change resolution on the last day of its 61st meeting, although it failed to take decisions on contentious whaling issues after days of negotiations that have hampered its progress in recent years.
Disappearing dolphins clamour for attention at whale summit
Small whales are disappearing from the world’s oceans and waterways as they fall victim to fishing gear, pollution, and habitat loss – compounded by a lack of conservation measures such as those developed for great whales, according to a new WWF report.