WWF is actively working to reduce the major threats to whales: bycatch, climate change, collisions, seismic& sonar activity and overfishing.
WWF's long term vision for whales is for all populations of whales to have recovered to viable numbers and to be thriving throughout the oceans. WWF is working for a significant reduction of threats to endangered populations of great whales as well as several smaller cetaceans.
WWF is lobbying to bring whale hunting under the strict control of the International Whaling Commission, through field research, training and capacity building, conservation education, and by securing improved national and international action and agreements.
Through support to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring programme of WWF and IUCN (the World Conservation Organisation) the organisation is closely investigating and monitoring the illegal trade in whale meat.
Whale news
-
26 Jun 2009
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.
There are 17 different whale species (including dolphins and porpoises) in the Arctic.
Some of these live in the Arctic all year round, such as the narwhal and beluga, and some, such as the humpback whale and gray whale migrate to the cooler arctic waters during the northern summer to give birth.
Learn more about the different whales that live in the Arctic:
Some of these live in the Arctic all year round, such as the narwhal and beluga, and some, such as the humpback whale and gray whale migrate to the cooler arctic waters during the northern summer to give birth.
Learn more about the different whales that live in the Arctic: