Latest Whale News

New Report Documents Massive Growth in Whale Watching

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PST

(Madeira, Portugal -- 23 June 2009) –A new report released today by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) documents massive growth in the global whale watching industry over the past decade. The new report, Whale Watching Worldwide, comes as more than 80 countries debate the future of whaling and whale conservation at the 61st annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Madeira, Portugal.

Whaling Commission Countries Face Critical Choice: Science-based Conservation or Sanctioned Slaughter?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PST

(Madeira, Portugal -- 22 June 2009) –Governments from more than 80 countries opened the 61^st annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) here today, following a year of closed-door discussions which have failed to secure agreement from Japan, Iceland and

Norway

to respect the body’s scientific procedures and commercial whaling ban. Conservation-minded delegates to the week-long meeting said much is at stake for whales and decades of international efforts to protect them.

Iceland urged to rethink ill-advised and damaging whaling policy

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST

(London - 18 February 2009) – The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is urging Iceland to rethink its latest controversial whaling policy which could see around 250 whales, including an endangered species, killed cruelly and unnecessarily and cause damage to Iceland’s international reputation.

Protected Humpbacks Recovering, But Whales Worldwide Face Growing Threats

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST

(Cape Cod, MA – 12 August 2008) – Revisions to the status of humpback whales on the world’s Red List of Threatened Species were announced today by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) based in Gland, Switzerland. The humpback whale, depleted to very low levels by 1970 due to commercial whaling, has shown a substantial recovery over the last 40 years, thanks to international protection, and has moved from “vulnerable” to “least concern” on the Red List. Two subpopulations, the Arabian and Oceania humpback whales are still classified as endangered.

IWC Voting Stops, But Whaling Continues

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

(Santiago, Chile – 25 June 2008) – As the third day of the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) opened, conservation organizations including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (www.ifaw.org) expressed concern that the sixtieth annual meeting is focusing exclusively on procedures and process while failing to deal with ongoing whaling by Japan, Norway and Iceland. “So far nothing achieved here matters beyond the conference room door,” said Patrick Ramage, IFAW Global Whale Program Director. “Meanwhile, whales in the water around the world are being killed for products that nobody needs in the name of science no one respects.”

New report charts massive growth of whale watch industry in Latin America

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

(Santiago, Chile – 24 June 2008) – A massive growth in whale watching in Latin America has seen income from ticket sales more than quadruple over the past 15 years, highlighting the economic value of the industry as an alternative to whaling.

Conservation or Compromise? Whaling Commission Meets at Crossroads

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

(Santiago, Chile – 23 June 2008) – The fate of the world’s whales and the future of the International Whaling Commission hang in the balance as delegates from 81 nations gather for the 60th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The commission has been deadlocked in recent years as the last three nations engaged in whaling for commercial purposes, Japan, Iceland and Norway, have fought to block conservation measures in the forum.

Mystery Meat: Japan Unable to Account for Fin Whales on Sale

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

(Santiago, Chile – 23 June 2008) – Evidence has emerged on day one of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting suggesting that more endangered fin whales have been killed than previously reported to the international body by the Government of Japan. A new report submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee appears to confirm warnings from international researchers and conservationists that Japan is underreporting the number of whales it kills each year. “The Government of Japan is unable to regulate the sale of whale meat in the country,” said Naoko Funahashi, Director of IFAW Japan and co-author of the report. “DNA testing proves more fin whales are being sold in Japan than the Government admits having killed. Something’s fishy.”

IFAW Pacific Briefing: The International Whaling Commission 60th Annual Meeting

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

Video Newswire: World’s nations to consider lifting whaling ban this month

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

Attempt to revive whale meat trade raises legal questions

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST

(London, United Kingdom - 4 June 2008) – Legal and regulatory questions are being raised over the export of whale meat to Japan from Iceland and Norway first reported earlier this week.

Iceland resumes whaling - first whale killed

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

(May 21, 2008) – Iceland’s whalers have announced that they have killed their first whale since it was revealed earlier this week that the country was resuming commercial whaling.

Japan’s Whaling - More Sushi than Science

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

Sydney, Australia - 16 January 2008 – While the drama unfolds in the Southern Ocean, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org) reiterates the only way to permanently stop the Government of Japan’s illegal whaling activity is through international courts.

Japan bows to pressure on humpback whales – but continues largest hunt since whaling ban

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST

(Yarmouth, MA - 21 December 2007) - The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW - www.ifaw.org) today welcomed news that the Government of Japan has suspended plans to kill 50 humpback whales over the next several months. Today's announcement follows months of public and diplomatic pressure on Japan, which launched its whaling fleet on November 18.

Companies Linked to Japanese Whaling; Conservationists Call for Action

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST

(Yarmouth Port, MA - 18 December 2007) - In letters released today, Humane Society International, the Environmental Investigation Agency and the International Fund for Animal Welfare urged three Japanese seafood companies and their U.S. subsidiaries to use their influence with the Japanese government to end the imminent slaughter of nearly 1,000 whales in a whale sanctuary around Antarctica. Today's action coincides with the arrival of the Japanese whaling fleet in the international sanctuary.

\"Save the Whale\" campaign takes flight over America with 12-year-old conservationist aboard

Wed, 9 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

(Boston, MA - 9 May 2007) - This month will be no ordinary month for 12-year-old Henry Ramage of Cape Cod, MA. He is set to embark on an adventure of a lifetime in his quest to save whales. Henry will be traveling with his father, Patrick Ramage, head of IFAW's (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org ) global whale campaign, on a coast-to-coast tour of America collecting "save the whale" artwork and messages from American 4th and 5th graders along the way.

Australian Government can stop Japan whaling

Mon, 7 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

(Sydney, Australia - 7 May 2007) - The Australian Government can stop Japan killing any more whales in the Southern Ocean by taking legal action, according to an independent panel of Australia’s leading international law experts, commissioned by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org ).

Icelandic whalers harpoon first minke whale of season

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST

(27 April 2007) - Icelandic whalers have harpooned the first whale of the season, despite a lack of national support and increased international outcry. The minke whale was killed off the north-west coast of Iceland today (April 27), more than a week after whalers were granted permits to kill 39 minkes this season for so-called "scientific" research.

Major U.S. Sushi Supplier Linked to Japan's Whale Hunts

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST

(Washington, DC - 10 April 2007) - True World Foods, one of the largest suppliers of sushi meat in the United States, has entered into a partnership with leading Japanese whale meat trader, Kyokuyo, to distribute Kyokuyo’s new frozen sushi product in the United States. In its new report, "Raw Deal," the Environmental Investigation Agency details Kyokuyo’s decades-long involvement in hunting whales and its recent links to True World Foods.

Conservationists support Japanese whaling decision

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST

(Cape Cod, MA - 28 February 2007) - IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org ) supports the decision made by the Government of Japan to abandon this season's whale hunt and send its whaling fleet home.