scubavox home
Cetaceans
Whales, dolphins and porpoises - conservation, research, education, protection
Accobams
Monaco
The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS) is an intergovernmental agreement which is a legal conservation tool based on cooperation, with the purpose to reduce threats to cetaceans notably by improving current knowledge of these remarkable animals.
African Aquatic Conservation Fund
Senegal and USA
The African Aquatic Conservation Fund is dedicated to the preservation of African manatees, turtles, cetaceans, and other aquatic wildlife and their habitats throughout the African continent. This is done via focused research, conservation, and education projects. The Fund works in close partnership with local people, scientists, governments, and other stakeholders for the benefit of both wildlife and humans.
African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization
Cameroon
AMMCO’s mission is to contribute to the protection of the aquatic megafauna and their habitats in Central Africa by improving the scientific knowledge of the area, and involving fishers and other stakeholders into sustainable fisheries and responsible watershed-use. The four strategies they have adopted include applied research and monitoring, integrated management, awareness and capacity building. In practice this involves conservation of the aquatic megafauna b: Protection, Restoration, Good local governance, Community-based conservation, Alternative livelihood and Advocacy. They aim to develop the advanced skills and experience required in aquatic research, achieved by providing internship, mentorship, and workshops to students and fishermen frequently.
American Cetacean Society
USA
American Cetacean Society aims to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats by educating the public about the problems these animals face. It also provides teachers' guides and fact sheets on marine mammals and allows interested parties to join the group's whale watching trips to Baja. The Society also makes research grants available and is involved in conservation actions.
Ark2030
UK
Ark2030 is on a mission 'to restore the 500 million hectares of ecosystems destroyed by mankind since the beginning of the industrial revolution'. A strategic and collaborative approach, working with specialist partners around the world, Ark2030 has developed funding models for environmental restoration programmes. They invest in the companies that are working to restore the natural world. Included in their sights are: Cleaning up the Ganges, restoring the global whale population, targeting plastic pollution in the oceans and on land, improving island eco-systems, developing mangrove plantations, protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef and other coral restoration programmes such as Coralive's Maldives project.
Atlantic Whale and Dolphin Foundation
UK, Tenerife
The AWdF, through its operating base in Tenerife, Canary Islands, has been running its conservation and research programme, including its volunteer programme on the whale watching boats for 25 years. Activities revolve around cetacean awareness education, conservation and research initiatives. The AWdF oversees the Atlantic Ocean Cetacean Network (AOCN), and an extensive range of awards and grants aimed at facilitating cetacean programmes in the region. They also work with the tourism industry, promoting cetacean conservation and promoting responsible whale watching and other ecotourism opportunities. AWdF is part of the Fair Earth Foundation family.
Balyena.org
Philippines
Balyena describe themselves as ‘a group of scientists, professionals, artists & more’, who use their ‘skills & experiences for marine mammal conservation in the Philippines’. They promote scientific research and conservation of cetaceans in the area. Recognising the value of local knowledge, and local community involvement, they adapt their conservation methods accordingly. Research, education and conservation are the cornerstones of their activities, which includes studies on known cetacean populations in different regions of the Philippines and investigation of new sites where sightings have been reported.
Be Whale Wise
USA, Canada
Be Whale Wise is a partnership of governmental agencies such as NOAA, non-profits and other stakeholders in the Salish Sea with the purpose to research, implement and educate best vessel practices to protect the unique and fragile marine resources found in the area. The Salish Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean, and is located in both British Columbia in Canada and Washington State in the USA. Be Whale Wise informs the public on the laws pertaining to marine mammals, as well as provides additional guidelines that will make boating safer for the environment. Violations can be reported directly to them.
Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation
USA
Blue Ocean Society works to protect marine animals and their habitats in the Gulf of Maine, through a variety of research and education programs. In their efforts to make facts about the marine life of the Gulf of Maine more accessible to the general public, the Blue Ocean Society regularly gives presentations on marine life to schools and libraries (followed by beach clean-up trips). They have also partnered with a number of reputable whale tour operators in the area to organize wild whale watching tours.
BlueVoice
USA
Blue Voice is an ocean conservation organization founded in 2000 by Hardy Jones and Ted Danson, with the mission to protect dolphins, whales and other marine mammals, and to raise popular awareness about the plight of the oceans. After Harvey Jones died in 2018, the Hardy Jones Rapid Response Fund was created in his memory as a dedicated fund to support front-line activists and campaigners by the speedy disbursement of funds from time to time. Amongst other activities, they document transgressions against marine life on film.
Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute
Spain
The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) is an independent research and educational centre dedicated to the understanding and conservation of cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and whales) and the marine environment in which they live. Founded by the biologist Bruno DÃaz López in Sardinia, Italy in 2005, in 2014 the BDRI opened a new facility in Galicia, Spain. Their mission has a strong educational component, to expand the public's knowledge and concern for the marine environment, and add to the knowledge base of bottlenose dolphins and other species of cetaceans through scientific publications of collected and analysed field data.
CETUS Research and Conservation Society
Canada
Cetus Research & Conservation Society is a marine conservation organization, founded in 2005 to address the increasing danger to British Columbia's killer whales as a result of human activity. Operating in the waters around Victoria, Quadra Island and Alert Bay, BC, they focus on one of the three key contributors to killer whale endangerment, namely vessel traffic disturbance, working in the field to protect whales and other marine mammals from harassment and harm. They aim to promote respect for the marine environment through on-the-water and land-based education, outreach and direct monitoring activities.